Parades, rallies and speeches marked this year’s May Day celebrations in the regional capitals.
From Sekondi/Takoradi, Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu & Andrews Tetteh report that thousands of workers from various parts of the Western Region converged on the Jubilee Park at West Tanokrom to mark the day.
Dressed in their respective corporate-branded T-shirts, the workers bore placards, some of which read “Who owns West African Mills,” “We want better service, GCB,” “Who is pocketing the 40 per cent WAMCO shares,” “We want money in our pocket, the economy is hard,” “Don’t corrupt the revenue staff,” and “Realistic tariffs now”.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, took the national salute and read President John Mahama’s speech.
Some companies and individuals were presented with awards.
Zadok Kwame Gyesi reports from Cape Coast , that workers in the Central Region defied an early morning rain to mark the day.
In spite of the fact that it was praining, the workers converged on the Victoria Park chanting slogans and bearing placards some of which had the inscription: “Ghana’s economy is in tatters”, “Boys and girls abré, minimum wage wc hen?”, “Workers need better conditions of service”, “Tripartite committee whats up?”, “Create more jobs”, “Stop empty promises” and “President we don’t want dum sc”.
Eighteen workers were rewarded for their hard work.
From the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua, A. Kofoya-Tetteh reports that hundreds of workers from different parts of the region paraded through some of the principal streets of Koforidua with placards some of which read “Too many taxes”, “Let the cash flow for road maintenance”.
They later converged on the Jackson Park for a march past with the Regional Minister, Mr Julius Debrah, taking the salute after which he read the President’s address and commended workers for their immense contributions towards the growth of the economy.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Eastern Regional Council of Labour, Brother Daniel Nkrumah, read the address of the Secretary-General of the TUC.
The New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Dr Kwaku Owusu Acheampong, also addressed the gathering during which he advised workers to eschew apathy, laziness and absenteeism.
Prizes and citations were later presented to workers who distinguished themselves at their various workplaces.
Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor reports from Kumasi that organised labour in the Ashanti Region went on a two-hour route march through some principal streets within the metropolis before converging on the Jubilee Park to mark the day.
In spite of an early morning rain, hundreds of workers belonging to the various unions marched through the Central Market, Asafo and Labour Roundabout, holding placards with messages that conveyed their concerns, before converging on the durbar grounds to listen to the May Day message and witness the presentation of awards to deserving individuals.
Some of the placards had the inscriptions: “Mr President, keep to your promise”, “Ghanaian workers are suffering”, “Ghana Railway cannot work without assets”, “Ghana Railway belongs to the state and not the workers so pay us now”, “Fair Wages wrong placement,” and “Stop gender-based violence”.
The workers also sang songs bemoaning the current harsh economic situation in the country and called for solutions to address it.
Eighteen workers selected from the various unions of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) in the Brong Ahafo Region were honoured at this year’s May Day celebrations held at the Golden City Park in Berekum for their hardworking, patriotic and devoted services, reports Kwame Asiedu Marfo.
They received refrigerators, certificates of excellence and citations.
They were later addressed by the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, and labour union leaders.
In Ho, Mary Anane reports that the workers converged on the Jubilee Park after a procession through the principal streets.
The workers, who were in a cheerful mood, engaged themselves in “Borborbor” dance to entertain themselves.
Some of them carried placards with the inscription, “We want automatic salary adjustment formula”, “Reduce the tax burden”, “Let our pay value the work we do” and “Let us protect our forest” to put across some of their grievances.
Fifty-three-year-old Mrs Vivian Adoboe from the Ghana Post was adjudged the best worker for the region.
She received a citation and a table top freezer as her prize.
Twenty-three others received prizes.
This article has 0 comment, leave your comment.