By Godfred Amoaful
President Akufo-Addo has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the enactment of a new labour Act that is comprehensive and contemporary and protects the interests of all actors in the world of work.
The President was addressing the Nation and all labour unions’ May Day celebration on Wednesday, May 1 in Accra.
This year’s May Day celebration hinges on the theme; Election 2024: The Role of Workers And Social Partners In Securing Peaceful Election for National Development.
New Labour Act:
President Akufo-Addo in his speech, noted that, based on the commitment of the Ghanaian workforce for national development, the least he can do in his last term of office is to honor them and to facilitate the new Labor Act that has been the utmost desire of the unions. He said, labour issues are some of the most topical and important issues in almost every country such as the standard of living of the populace, businesses, as well as individual and family welfare.
He noted that, it is for this reason his direction for a new labour law to be enacted, which has been largely carried out.
President Akufo-Addo assured that, with the cooperation of Parliament, the new Labour Act can be promulgated by the close of 2024.
He added that the government is providing adequate infrasture for Labour administration institutions to enable them to deliver effectively on their mandates, which includes the procurement of 60 motirbikes and 17 pick up vehicles aimed at enhancing the mobility of the labour officers.
President Akufo -Addo stated that 16 new public employment centres are being constructed and 40 others will be renovated accross all 16 regions to give enhanced visibility to encourage patronage of the labour department’s activities.
He said these measures are all geared towards fostering peace among the labour unions and maintain a stable labour environment.
Election 2024:
On election 2024, the President Akufo-Addo urged state institutions to discharge their duties efficiently to promote peace. He said, workers and social partners must hold state actors accountable on their mandates, noting that, disputes and disagreements are bound to arise in the course of work, however, the President said, agencies responsible for addressing such issues must discharge their duties effectively to maintain peace.
The President further noted that, industrial peace remains one of his priorities which has necessitated a proposal of fundamental changes to the structure, and architecture of the National Labour Commission under the new labour bill being prepared.
He said these fundamental changes are in tandem with the government’s policies of ensuring that the backlog of cases becomes a thing of the past.
“Between 2017 and 2023, a total of 4,207 cases were recorded at the national labour commission. The commission settled a total of 2,678 cases representing 64% of them, leaving 36% of the cases unresolved” he said.
“Government in his quest for peace and security will continue to rollout various policy measures in the labour administration for the transformation of the world of work. It is our collective interest to promote peace, security and stability ahead of the 2024 general election. Ghana is the only country we have and we must do everything in our power to defend our nation and its constitution ” he added.
Economic growth:
On the economic challenges, the President reteirated the impact of COVID-19 and the Russian-Ukraine war on the Ghanian economy. Despite those challenges, he said the government has done all it could to turn things around and lay down the foundation for stable macroeconomic environment for Ghanians and businesses, lay the foundation for more inclusive and stronger growth growth while protecting the poor and the vulnerable.
President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the IMF for signs of microeconomic stability and economic recovery.
“Government has never been of the view that the IMF bailout package will be a sufficient solution to our economic circumstances but rather and import steps to our economic recovery” he said.
Benefits for Pensioners:
On lump sum top up for 2021 retirees under the Act 766, President Akuffo-Addo emphasized that, the Controller and Accountant General’s Department has released an amount of GHS 55.4 million to facilitate the payment of the outstanding lump sum top ups to 5,819 beneficiaries starting from 2020. In addition, the President said, the government has paid GHS 99.7 million for nine months covering July 2023 to March 2024 out of the tier 2 outstanding contributions GHS 993.9 million. The President said the government has agreed with the organised labour for payment plan to pay the balance in three equal charges by August 2024 through a combination of cash payments and government payments.
President Akufo-Addo further noted that the government has been able to clear outstanding principal arrears of tier One SSNIT contributions of 2.46 billion cedis owed by the government covering 2010 to 2021 through securization in April 2024.
The president also highlighted on the current power crisis in the country. Before his speech, the Secretary General of of the Trades Union Congress, TUC, Dr. Yaw Baah pleaded the President to fix the power instability popularly known as “Dumsor” as it affects businesses.
The President further called for a concerted effort from all stakeholder to shape Ghana’s journey in marching forward.
