Labour Consultant calls on Organised Labour & Gov't to Constantly Engage on National Issues 


Panelists on GTV's Current Affairs Programme Talking Point, have agreed that labour reserves the right to strike and demonstration, but differed on the methods and impacts they have on the country's economy. 

A Labour Consultant, Austin Gamey indicated that labour should constantly engage government on issues, which he noted will avoid most of these agitations. 

Commenting on the nationwide protest last week, Mr. Gamey said it was a minus for the economy because it did not favour it. 

He said huge sums of monies were wasted following that venture.

The Deputy General Secretary of the Public Service Workers Union, PSWU, Richard Ampaabeng, justified the actions of Organised Labour. 

According to him, government's ability to take certain actions will go a long way to tackle the problems on hand. 

Mr. Ampaabeng mentioned the revamping of the rail sector, re-introduction of fuel subsidies and tackling corruption as some of the measures that ought
to be looked at.

A Presidential Staffer, Dr. Michael Kpessah Whyte noted that the strike was not necessary. He highlighted the President's directives to improve the economy. 

These include changing the structure of the economy and altering the huge demand for imports. 

He stressed that development is a process, and not an event. Therefore there is the need for collaboration among all stakeholders.

On the way forward, Dr. Kpessah Whyte asked labour unions to form cooperatives to provide lifeline to workers who are their members. 

Mr. Gamey asked Ghanaians to learn from their mistakes or be doomed. 

He said Organised Labour must engage government in non adversarial ways to avert these crises.


GBC