The Trades Union Congress has urged Ghanaian workers to vote for a presidential candidate who with policies and issues that will ultimately turnaround the current challenges facing the country.
Eastern Regional Secretary of the TUC, Phyllis Agyeman asked workers not to allow themselves to be influenced by politicians in the November 7 general elections.
She gave the advise Sunday when thousands of the workers marched through some principal street of Koforidua to mark this year’s May Day celebration which is themed “Election 2016: The Role of Workers in Securing Peaceful Elections for National Development”.
Workers in the region summed up their grievances on placards, which they held in the 30-minute march that ended at the Jacksons Park where their leaders addressed them.
Ms. Agyeman encouraged workers to vote for a candidate who will create more jobs, improve the economy to better the living conditions of the people and tackle sanitation issues among others.
“We urge the workers to vote for candidates who will tackle issues,” she said.
She also kicked against ECG’s privatisation and asked for more political will from governments to help State enterprises and agencies survive as against their privatisation.
Touching on the rights of workers, she expressed regrets that some foreign private firms were abusing their workers. She thus called for a swift action to be taken to protect the rights of workers while urging them to be productive.
“The companies who are abusing workers should desist from it. They must respect the laws governing workers,” she warned.
Eastern Regional Minister, Mavis Ama Frempong, congratulated workers for their hard work over the years that have contributed to the nation’s development process.
She urged them not to be influenced unnecessary to initiate demonstrations, especially in this election year, but rather dialogue with government to settle whatever differences they may have.
“I wish to see the day workers of the Eastern Region will march for productivity. To whom more is given, more is expected, ” Ms Frempong said, adding “Do not allow yourself to be influence by anybody to go on demonstrations, we will dialogue with you. Your hard work over the years has brought us this far. ”
Commenting on the upcoming elections, she noted the exercise is a shared responsibility of government, workers and the clergy among other stakeholders, and cautioned against violence in the on-going limited voters registration exercise.
“I urge the political parties not to use violence but rather support the Electoral Commission to have a successfully exercise,” she said.
By Yvonne Neequaye|3news.com|Ghana
