Thousands of public and private sector workers have gathered across the country to join the world to mark this year’s labour day.
A national event, to be addressed by President John Dramani Mahama is being held at the Jubilee Park in Wa in the Upper West Region where the leadership of organised labour have converged.
Themed “Election 2016: The Role of Workers in Securing Peaceful Elections for National Development”, similar events are taking place in the 10 regions across country. And typical of May Day celebrations over the years, the event will see workers voice out their grievances.
Issues of workers remuneration, better conditions of service, unemployment and elections are set to feature prominently as the concerns of workers at this year’s events at the various regions.
President Mahama’s address is expected to applaud the workers for their sacrifices over the years, appreciate their contributions to the socio-economic development of the country.
He will also talk about the need to ensure violence-free election, assure the workers of a free and fair elections come November 7 as well as the various interventions and policies being or already put in place to better the welfare of workers.
Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress, Dr. Yaw Baah told TV3’s Daniel Opoku on News 360Saturday night that the theme was carefully chosen considering the fact that Ghana goes to the polls in November.
He explained the theme is a reminder to the Ghanaian workers of their role in ensuring a violence free election, adding it seeks to sensitise our members to be alert against violence and also to vote and be part of the process.
Dr Baah said all the concerns raised so far on the elections and the Electoral Commission demonstrates how important the election is to the ordinary Ghanaian.
“The concerns, for me, reflect the importance Ghanaians attach to the election,” he said and noted that organised labour is fully satisfied with the EC’s preparation towards the November 7 polls.
He said until last week when they met with officials of the EC, they thought the preparation by the EC was not up to scratch.
“Before we met them, we thought the preparation was inadequate but after our meeting with the chairman of the EC and the Deputy we are satisfied that we are going to have peaceful elections,” he said.
Labour and Employment Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, described the theme for the celebration as apt, noting that the conduct of election is a shared and collective responsibility.
By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3news.com|Ghana
