Kumasi, May 1, GNA - Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, has called on Ghanaian workers to be time conscious, to increase productivity and facilitate national development. He said the concept of 91African time' should be a thing of the past in the country's present scheme of affairs, to ensure the successful execution of Ghana's socio-economic development agenda. Dr Agyeman-Mensah was addressing the Ashanti Regional workers' parade in Kumasi, to mark this year's May Day celebration that was under the theme: 93Decent Work for Sustainable Economic Development". Workers from various unions and organizations in both the private and public sectors took part in the celebrations amidst drumming and dancing.

Some of them carried placards, which read: 93Ghanaian workers deserve changes in living conditions", 93employers respect workers rights", 93Uncle Atta, Ghanaian workers are dying", 93and unemploymen= t is rising", 93politicians tell us the truth", among others. Dr Agyeman-Mensah appealed to workers to adhere to work ethics to enable the nation to achieve its national objectives and aspirations. He said decent work called for discipline and commitment from all departments, and advised workers to do away with factors that could derail the achievement of the country's agenda. Dr Agyeman-Mensah commended Ghanaian workers for their sacrifices to national development and asked them to support Government in the pursuit of the better Ghana agenda.

In a statement read for him, the Secretary General of the Ghana Trade Union Congress, Mr Kofi Asamoah, asked employers to treat workers with dignity and fairness and pay attention to occupational safety and healthy work environment as a means of promoting decent work. He called for transparency in the administration of Ghana's oil resources so that it would accelerate socio-economic development. More than 40 workers from various unions received awards for their meritorious services to their organizations and unions. They received table-top refrigerators, Television sets, laptop computers and standing fans.