GUTA swears in 15 New Executives-calls on gov't to expedite action on GIPC Act 478

A 15 member executive of the Ghana Union of Traders' Association (GUTA) has been sworn in over the weekend with a strong call on the government as a matter of urgency to expedite action on the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Act 478.

The Act, which is currently before parliament awaiting amendment. When amended, it would give serious attention to local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

The union also complained vehemently about the gross influx of foreigners into the retail business sector and appealed to the government not to renege on its promise of protecting the local retail businesses from undue foreign exploitations.

The 15 member executives were elected by an Electoral College and supervised by Mr. Augustine Ntiamoah, of the Greater Accra Regional Directorate of the Electoral Commission. At the end of the conference, 15 members were elected and sworn in by a Legal Practitioner at the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), Mr. Emmanuel Avenorgbo, to run the affairs of GUTA.

They are: Mr. George Kwaku Ofori, the Acting President of GUTA, sworn in as the new President, Mr. Daniel Aggrey, 1st Vice President, Augustine Oteng-Kusi as the 2nd Vice President, Mr. George Kwame Gyan, General Secretary and Mallam Alpha Abdullah Shaban as Deputy General Secretary

Others are Mrs. Gifty Boateng, Treasurer, Mr. Amos Amoa Asiamah, Financial Secretary, Mr. Joseph Obeng, Organising Secretary, Mr. Clement Boateng, 1st Deputy Organising Secretary, and Alfred Asomani, 2nd Deputy Organising Secretary.

While the Public Relations Officer, Deputy Public Relations Officer, Welfare Officer, Deputy Welfare Officer and Protocol Officer Positions went to Mr. Joseph Pady, Ms. Patience Atta Prempeh, Mr. Daniel Tenkorang, Mr.Clement Boahen and Mr. Richard Amamoo respectively.

In his acceptance speech, the President of GUTA, Mr. George Kwaku Ofori appealed to the members of association to put the election behind them and forge ahead for the common good of the association.

He advised the new executives that 'we elected to serve and not to be bosses of the members' and thanked members of the association for the confidence reposed in them.

Earlier, in a keynote address read for the Acting Executive Secretary of the Civil Servants Association of Ghana, Mr. James Ekow Ammisah, at the maiden quadric-annual delegate conference, he stressed that “Trade Unions are vital actors in facilitating the achievement of sustainable development in view of their experience in addressing industrial change, the extremely high priority they give to the working environment and their promotion of socially responsible and economic development. Trade Unions provide important channels through which the concepts and practices of sustainable development can be supported”.

He added that trade unions and other workers organizations have continued to define, develop and promote policies on all aspects of sustainable development in Ghana, and not only for individuals but for the collective group of workers.

They have also extended their goodwill to employers and government. But their work never ends. Consequently, trade unions would continue to exist and be more relevant so long as an iota of social justice and inequity exist.