Thousands take part in May Day parade

Accra, May 1 GNA - Hundreds of thousands of workers from all walks of life on Monday took part in this year's National May Day Parade at the Independence Square in Accra with a call on organised labour to unite for the good of their members.

As early as 0800 hours, workers of the various organizations could be seen entering the square on board their vehicles carrying placards, banners and musical instruments to the parade grounds. One common feature at this year's parade was the general comportment of the workers. The Police and The Prison's band provided music. Immediately after President John Agyekum Kufuor had delivered his May Day address and had given prizes to a few workers, the tone was set for the march past.

As usual workers used the occasion to make their major concerns known to the Government through their placards.

Some workers were happily dancing to melodious brass band music others could be seen in solemn mood, wearing red arm bands and carry inscriptions some of which read: "Our take home can't take us home" and "Dan or No Dan Botwe We Want Our 10 Vehicles".

Even though today's parade could pass as one of the most incident free in recent years the workers urged the Government to do something about their low salaries.

Earlier, Mr Kwesi Adu-Amankwah, Secretary-General of the Ghana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) had called on the Government to involve stakeholders in its policy implementation since the TUC played a critical role in the country's development.

He further urged the Government to issue a white paper on the report of the Presidential Commission on Pensions as well as tackle the inequalities in the public sector reforms by closing the gap between top public official and those in the low-income bracket.

Sogakope (V/R)

Hundreds of workers of organized labour in the Volta Region on Monday marked this year's May Day with a parade at Sogakope under the auspices of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

They marched through the streets with placards some of which read "Oil marketing companies, you are milking us too much", "Mr President we need a living wage to stay alive" and "Mr President, implement the salary rationalization policy immediately".

In all 14 members of the various unions were awarded in recognition for their contribution towards the development of trade unionism in the country with Mr Paul Ntumi, of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) of the TUC adjudged the overall Regional Best Worker.

Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister appealed to the labour front to re-strategize to help employers to cope with the economic challenges faced by industry in the interest of the nation, the employer and the employee. He named terrorism and its accompanying insecurity, the rocketing oil prices, exodus of key labour from the developed world and competition for scarce investment capital as some of the challenges inhibiting the growth, particularly of small world economies. Mr Dzamesi said government and labour should work through dialogue to surmount these challenges to help accelerate growth in the country. Mr Kwasi Adu Amankwa, Secretary-General of the TUC in a message read on his behalf noted that the country still had a long way to go in terms of improving living standards as poverty was still widespread despite the economic achievements.

Affiliated labour groups that took part in the durbar were the Civil Servants Association of Ghana (CSAG), Judicial Service Association of Ghana (JUSAG), Ghana Registered Nurses Association (GRNA), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and Ghana Federation of Labour. 01 May 06