[ 2012-05-02 ]

Johnson Asiedu Nketia - NDC General Secretary

Political parties congratulate workers

Three political parties have extended gratitude to
Ghanaian workers, both in the formal and informal
sectors, for their hard work and patriotic
contribution towards Ghana's development over the
years.

Saluting the workers on the occasion of May Day, a
day set aside to celebrate workers worldwide, the
New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic
Congress (NDC) and the Progressive People's Party
(PPP) in various statements reminded Ghanaian
workers that it was only by hard work that Ghana
could be developed.

In a statement signed by the NPP flag-bearer, Nana
Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the party said this year’s
celebration comes at a time when Ghana was
preparing to go to the polls.

The party extended its gratitude to all Ghanaian
workers, both in the formal and informal sectors,
for their hard work and patriotic contribution
towards Ghana’s development over the years.

Among the challenges facing the society today, the
party noted, were the lack of jobs for large
segments of the people, high cost of living, high
cost of doing business, high cost of education,
high cost of accommodation and lack of access to
healthcare,

According to the party, these were some of the
issues that must engage the attention of the
Ghanaian people.

“Let us ensure that this election is primarily a
competition of ideas and solutions to the problems
facing our people. Let the results of this
election respond to the aspirations of the youth
of Ghana,” it stated.

The NPP, the statement added, was committed to
providing a competent, progressive leadership that
would bring about the transformation of the
national economy, driven by Ghanaians for the good
of Ghanaians. It is through rapid
industrialisation and value-addition that our
economy can create the needed pool of decent jobs
with decent pay across Ghana to enhance the
dignity of Ghanaian labour.

The NPP is determined to forge a partnership with
working people and the private sector to achieve
this goal so that the concerns of labour for
decent work, i.e. good jobs with good pay, strong
health and safety regulations, could be
satisfactorily addressed.

For us in the NPP, the security and unity of our
country were crucial and appealed to Ghanaians to
say and do things that would keep politics
healthy, clean, and constructive.

Maintaining law and order was key and we must all
encourage those tasked to do so to do it
professionally without fear or favour, it added.

The statement also indicated that the NPP was
committed to maintaining a safe and peaceful
environment necessary for the progressive
programmes and policies that we have for the
people of Ghana. The triumph of the rule of law is
what will fortify our prospects of building a
prosperous, fair and just Ghanaian society.

Our message on Workers’ Day to the anxious
Ghanaian workforce is this: stay faithful to the
Ghanaian enterprise. There is a brighter future
ahead of you. The NPP is resolute in its
commitment to building a society of aspirations
and opportunities for the Ghanaian people, it
added.

The National Democratic Congress on its part
extended its warmest felicitations and
congratulation to Ghanaian workers on the occasion
of May Day.

“We join all Ghanaians and the world over to
commend you for your hard work towards the
socioeconomic and political development, even in
the face of challenges confronting your efforts.”

A statement signed by the party’s General
Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, stated that
the NDC believed that “your dedication,
selflessness and commitment to work has influenced
the country’s productivity and sustained the
serene labour environment prevailing in the
country.”

The party saluted Ghanaian workers on the occasion
of workers day, saying, “the NDC, as a Social
Democratic party, shares in the aspirations of the
Ghanaian worker. It is the resolve of the NDC to
see to the qualitative improvement of all workers
of this country.”

Invariably, the party noted that the efforts and
sacrifices of the Trade Unions have been
recognised by the NDC as it seeks to build a
better Ghana.

We wish to remind the workers of the bond of
friendship between labour and progressive forces
such as the NDC. We the NDC shall continue to
stand for workers rights, unlike the ideological
foes of the working class who at a time in the
nation’s history tried to disband Trade Unionism
in this country.

As allies, the NDC believes in collaboration, fair
wages and the respect for workers’ human rights
and dignity.

We urge all Ghanaians to use the occasion to
reflect on our commitment and contribution to the
course of labour and its ramifications on the
country’s development, it pointed out.

The Progressive People’s Party on its part wished
all workers a happy, restful May Day.

“We know that the going has been tough, the
working conditions rough and the reward not what
is desired. But as we all have ourselves and our
families to take care of we need to work. Many
have worked hard. Many of our employers have also
kept faith with us,” it stated.

In a statement signed by the National Secretary of
the PPP, Mr Kofi Asamoah Siaw, it stated that “as
the nation’s gross domestic product is reported to
have grown significantly, the credit must go to
the Ghanaian worker. Even as more and more
infrastructure projects are awarded to foreign
contractors, it is still the ordinary Ghanaian who
provides the hard labour. To the ordinary Ghanaian
worker, we say, well done!”

According to the statement, the party was aware
that despite the protestations of some
politicians, there was a huge army of unemployed
Ghanaians among whom are unemployed graduates from
our tertiary institutions.

It further stated that the PPP was aware that over
1.5 million students failed their BECE
examinations over the past ten years and that
majority of them have joined the class of
unemployed people.

It said that they did not know the joy and
satisfaction that comes from profiting from the
sweat of your labour.

“We wish to respectfully ask, “Where are the
jobs?” The current NDC administration led by
President Mills has on a number of occasions
reported the creation of over 1 million jobs in
the country. We are pleased to inform all
Ghanaians that the PPP is committed to
facilitating the creation of well-paying and
meaningful jobs in our own country. It is the only
way that we can assure ourselves of a peaceful,
stable and prosperous country.

We will do this through incorruptible leadership,
using the best people we have as a nation and
committing the purchasing power of the state to
create a market for our private sector,” the party
pointed out.

According to the party, Ghanaians had a choice in
this election, saying that, “The best alternative
to what we have experienced in this Fourth
Republic is the Progressive People’s Party and our
Flag-bearer Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom.”

Source - Daily Graphic

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