Govt asked to prepare against Iraqi war

Trades Union Congress (TUC) Secretary-General Kwasi Adu-Amankwa on Friday called on the government to put in place measures to cushion the effects of the Iraqi war on the nation should the need arises.

He said that the war would have an adverse effect on the world, particularly Africa and they should therefore, not look on without preparing adequately for the consequences.

Mr Amankwa said this at the Cape Coast District Council of labour meeting at Cape Coast to discuss the minimum wage and the national budget.

The Secretary-General regretted that most Ghanaians do not show interest in matters that concern their welfare and development, but only wait until they are in serious crisis before they start looking for solution.

On the minimum wage, he said the 9,200 cedis given was not enough and therefore, asked union members to show interest and discuss more on it and that the union cannot solve all the problems in a day.

He said his outfit would collate views from various organisations and departments to enable it come out a more realistic income level for workers, adding that free market without price control is not good for Ghanaian workers.

Mr Adu-Amankwa expressed his displeasure about government's intention to deduct 2.5 percent from the social security contribution to start the national health scheme without consulting workers. "SNNIT money is not for the government but for workers," he said.

He said if the government should deduct such monies for the scheme it should be for pensioners and not workers since most organisations have already put in place measures to take care of the health needs of their workers.

He called on the government to reconsider its decision to impose 640 cedis on a litre of petrol for debt recovery, saying, care must taken since deduction would bring about increases in fuel prices, which could also lead to a general market price hike.

The secretary-general tasked the union executives to find time to educate their members on the activities of the union and called for unity and teamwork to forge the union ahead.

Most of the members expressed concern about the high cost of living in the country and called for better conditions.

Mr Wallace Kwaw, district chairman, announced that this year's regional May Day celebration would be held at Twifo Praso.