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14.04.2014 Opinion

Salute to Ghanaian workers

By Kofi Owusu
Salute to Ghanaian workers
14.04.2014 LISTEN

May Day is international workers day - a day when workers celebrate our central role in society and our power to change the world. A day of solidarity when workers tell the world that workers have no country - that the workers of all countries are brothers and sisters and have nothing to lose but our chains. Let us remind Ghanaians that we workers fuel the country's development. That without us no cog can turn!

Inequality is embedded in the socio-economic policies of capitalism. Capitalism's current neo-liberal phase has let the free market rip. The abandonment of even the previous limited protection for workers by the state to pay off foreign debt and deepening economic crisis has resulted in poverty, low pay, a higher cost of living, rising unemployment, lack of job creation, poor health and safety and deteriorating conditions at work.

May Day must be the day when the labour movement recommits itself to support for public ownership of industry as the basis for progress, modernisation, the expansion of Ghana's industrial and agricultural resources and the reversal of environment destruction. Public ownership is needed to counter the effective investment strike by major companies. These companies are sitting on billions of cedi reserves in the midst of abject poverty and unemployment.

What is needed are publically owned enterprises, controlled, run by and accountable to ordinary people. The highest paid managers should not receive more than five times the wage of the lowest paid workers. Workers and ordinary Ghanaians must be elected to serve on the management boards of the enterprises for a maximum of two terms.

Attention must to be drawn to tax avoidance and evasion by Ghana's wealthy and corporate vested interests and the huge subsidies they receive from government.

The Trades Union Congress and its allies should strive for a national minimum wage. This will give a real boost to underpaid workers. It will drive forward the economy by stimulating demand for the goods and services they provide and reduce poverty and misery.

May Day must be a source of inspiration and hope for the Ghanaian working class. Under the leadership of the Trade Union Congress and with the support of the TUC Veterans Association (Ghana) to take forward this major agenda of improvement for the Ghanaian workers. Only strong unions can forge ahead, end the declining conditions of many years and fight for a better future.

Let us make this May Day the day that we all start to fight together for a society in which we all benefit and enjoy Ghana's independence, freedom and justice.

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