An Open Letter To The President Of Ghana On Safety And Matters Arising

Sir, this is one of the many letters I shall be writing to you in your term as a president. I would kindly crave your indulgence to pay attention to my concerns. I f you so happen to travel out for a national assignment, please advice your handlers to secure your copy. I take opportunity to congratulate you on your resounding victory of the past elections.

I reference an article I published in the Daily Graphic on Health and Safety was published on 3, June 2014 titled “Occupational Health and Safety Policy: Some issues”. At that time, as it is now, there were similar safety concerns with accidents recorded. The then Minister of Employment and Labour Relations promised the passage of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Bill.

As at December last year 2016, Mr. Haruna Iddrissu assured passage of the bill. I don’t know why Government Assurances Committee did not see need to raise issues with him for the untruth. Fact is , the process for this policy started from 2001 and till date has not even received a parliamentary reading.

But the chorus has not changed. The current minster, Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, is also making promises on the policy. I checked from the Bills sent for consideration for this parliamentary session and was not part of them.

Mr President, I heard that you are meeting your Cabinet on Thursday. As part of the deliberations, the Atomic Junction Gas explosion will feature strongly in the discussions.

Knowing you from afar and judging from how you have handled the Galamsey menace with forthright leadership, I will not hesitate about the far-reaching outcomes of the meeting, especially the one on safety issues. I trust it shall be welcome news and one that resonates with all.

But please don’t leave me disappointed. The Occupational Health and Safety policy document is still not passed into law. Please give us some timeliness about the passage of it.

My research shows that 7% of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is spent annually on occupational safety and health issues. This is frightening and we can together do something about reducing this.

Sir, I just heard the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chief Executive say that there is no Law against the siting of fosil fuel filling stations in the country. In my view, Sir, this is one more reason why we need the OHS policy in place to put the appropriate ground rules for the safety of its citizenry.

The positive impact of this policy cannot be overemphasised not only in the aforementioned but will also boost business confidence and becomes an avenue for job creation which your party had it as the title of your manifesto document.

Until we talk again.
Thank you.
Ebenezer Annang
National Service Personnel
[email protected]