TUC commends President for lifting lockdown

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana has lauded the decision of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to lift the partial lockdown of Accra, Kumasi, Tema and Kasoa.

While commending the President for his decisiveness, the organisation has urged the public to adhere strictly to the safety protocols established by both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has described the President’s leadership insofar as handling of the disease was concerned as excellent, considering the situation existing in the country as compared to other nations around the world.

The Secretary-General of the TUC, Dr Anthony Yaw Baah, said this when he led the leadership of the union to the Jubilee House.

The visit by the TUC to the Presidency was at the invitation of the President and was aimed at discussing issues in relation to COVID-19.

“Yesterday you eased some of the restrictions your government had put in place to contain the disease and called for strict adherence to others still in existence and we think it was the right thing to do, given the ramifications of a prolonged lockdown,” he added.

Impact

Dr Baah said the TUC had commenced a process to assess the impact of COVID-19 on employment in Ghana, adding that “what we are seeing is mind-boggling as businesses are collapsing in all sectors of the economy and many people have lost their jobs with many more on the line until the current easing of restrictions”.

He said the fight against COVID-19 was a shared responsibility and that the government was doing what was right for the country.

The Secretary-General of the TUC urged the public to observe the safety protocols laid out in respect of the pandemic.

Commendation

Dr Baah commended all health workers, staff of utility companies, security services, media practitioners, the Ministers of Health and Information and government advisors for their invaluable services to the nation.

“You risk your lives every day to protect the rest of us. As leaders of workers in the country you have made us very proud and we pray that God bless you abundantly,” he added.

Incentive

He expressed the union’s appreciation to the government for the incentive package offered to health workers. He was hopeful that the package would motivate them to work more diligently as the fight against the virus continued.

“As we all go back to work, I appeal to the national, division, branch and local unions of the TUC to work with their employers to ensure strict compliance with safety protocols on COVID-19,” Dr Baah said.

May Day

He said the planned regional and national parades by the TUC to mark this year’s May Day had been cancelled in compliance with the protocols banning all public gathering.

Under the circumstances, he said the union would hold a virtual May Day celebration on Ghana Television and extended an invitation to the President to speak to workers on the occasion to encourage them in this difficult time.

Collaboration

President Akufo-Addo said the government would continue to collaborate with all stakeholders as it dealt with the worrying disease.

He said measures the government had taken especially those dealing with the world of work, were some of the most critical of the steps that had to be taken because of the numbers involved and the critical role of labour in the development of the economy.

He said the government’s decision had been guided by data and science and stressed that going back to our normal way of living would not be easy as it would require a great deal of discipline and respect for healthy living.

President Akufo-Addo said the partial lockdown enhanced the country’s capacity to engage in large contact tracing efforts, especially, when very little was known about the virus. He said the best approach under the current circumstances had to do with tracing, testing and treatment.