Grant workers concession in BOPP shares

Mampong (Ash), June 25, GNA - Workers at Asante-Mampong in the Sekyere West district of Ashanti have called on the government to grant salary workers concession in the sales of the Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP) shares. They said the concession when granted could allow interested workers to buy shares deductible at source from their monthly salaries.

The Sekyere District Workers Association (SDWA) at a day's workers forum made the call on Wednesday at Mampong following government's decision to divest its 40 per cent shares in BOPP. The forum was also to appraise government's performance since the New Patriotic Party (NPP) assumed office about three years ago.

The workers pointed out that such a concession if granted as was done in respect of the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) would encourage savings and also give practical meaning to the government's declaration of the Golden Age of Business. "Part ownership of business ventures in the country will further motivate the Ghanaian worker to work harder towards the realisation of government's national reconstruction objective". They therefore urged the President to make savings and wealth creation one of his special initiatives.

The forum therefore challenged salary workers to patronise the BOPP shares when the concession was granted so as to create values for themselves. Such values when attained, the workers noted, will enable them to improve upon their lot to be able to live in harmony with their families and neighbours, since they will no longer be deprived as a result of poverty.

The workers lauded the government for wooing foreign investors into the country in fulfilment of its campaign promises. On salaries and conditions of service, the forum was satisfied with the genuine efforts government was making by going the extra mile in spite of recent delays in the payment of salaries and implored employees to exercise restraint in their demands on the government. The workers urged their colleagues to match their demands for higher salaries and wages with higher productivity to build a vibrant economically self-reliant nation, since government alone cannot transform the economy.