Unionists express solidarity with journalists

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday expressed its solidarity with the struggle of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), to protect freedom of speech and workers' rights. The TUC said it shares the pain of the "occupational hazards" of journalists and would continue to align with the rest of civil society to ensure the repeal of laws inimical to press freedom. Mr Kwesi Adu-Amakwah, Secretary-General of the TUC, said this at an end of year get-together for the TUC hierarchy and members of the GJA dubbed, "Unionists-Journalists Encounter 2000" in Accra.

The TUC honoured Mr Kwaku Baako Jnr., Editor-in-Chief of the Crusading Guide and Mr Kofi Arthur, Senior Reporter of the Public Agenda for their consistency in reporting labour issues at the ceremony.

Mr. Baako had one million and Mr Arthur was given 500 thousand cedis while they both received copies of the "TUC's History and Policies" each.

Mr. Adu-Amankwa described the arbitrary arrest and harassment of journalists as similar to "the pains afflicting organised labour" and said 140 trade unionists were killed whiles protecting workers' rights in 1999 throughout the world.

Mr. Adu-Amankwah said just as "persecuted journalists" remain courageous in their profession, so does the TUC intends to expose employers, who abuse the rights of workers.