By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
On Monday, May 1, workers in the Ashanti region joined many others across the country to commemorate May Day on the theme: “Protecting Incomes and Pensions in an Era of Economic Crisis: Our Responsibility.”
Among the participants was GBC’s Ashanti Regional Correspondent Nicholas Osei-Wusu, who reports that hundreds of formal and informal sector workers in the region defied early morning rains to actively participate in this year’s May Day activities.
From the General Post Office at Adum, the workers, dressed up in their various May Day branded “T”-shirts with brass band music and dance, walked through the main business district of Adum, the Asafo Interchange, and the Labour Roundabout before congregating at the Jubilee Park at Asem.
Among the partaking worker groups were staff of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, GBC, Ghana Railway Corporation, NAGRAT, the Timber and Wood Workers Union, and, for the first time, the Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, among other unions.
The workers carried placards with different messages to attract the attention of the government in particular. Some of them read “Ghana Railways Corporation is qualified to be called Highly Indebted Company-HIPC)”, “fix the economic crisis”, “Stop the galamsey threat, Government” and ” Let’s join hands to save our forest”.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Trades Union Congress, Brother Daniel Aquah, urged the government to pay attention to the poor working conditions of public sector employees in the country.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Simon Osei Mensah, acknowledged the concerns of the workers as expressed on placards.
He assured that government is taking steps to restore the economy to its pre-COVID-19 status, one of which is the Gold for Oil policy to bring down the ex-pumps prices of fuel.
Union activists who performed exceptionally in the past year were appreciated with gifts such as television sets and plaques.
The workers later gathered at the Kumasi Centre for National Culture, where they were treated to a buffet of meals and drinks with music as part of socialisation and networking.
