May Day @Ho

Poor salaries and wages, selective approach to salary reform, rising food prices and corruption were concerns that reflected on placards of workers at this year's May Day celebration at Ho on Thursday.

"Let us also eat" "We demand living wages" "Fuel prices are eroding our pay" "10 per cent pay rise for 2008 - not good" were some of the concerns expressed by public sector workers who marched through some principal streets of the municipality before converging for a durbar.

"Who is willing to give us a living wage: December 2008 will tell" appeared to be the flagship message to Government by the workers. Mr Maxwell Akoto-Mireku, Volta Regional Secretary of Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) urged all and sundry to work towards peaceful election in December.

He commended Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) for assisting the unions and pledged their support for the country's development. Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister lauded workers in the region for their efforts in the region's development. He regretted that global economic conditions manifested in high food prices and energy price hikes were eroding the gains made by government.

Mr Samuel Amankwa, Chief Technical Officer of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) at Jasikan and Chairman of Volta Regional Council of Labour was honoured as the Volta Regional Labour Personality of the Year. Fourteen other union executives were decorated and given awards for their contributions to labour issues in the region.