ICU calls for redoubled efforts to regain top spot in world cocoa production
The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) has called on stakeholders in the cocoa industry to redouble their efforts to enable the country to regain its position as the leading producer of the beans.
It said Ghana was once the world’s leading producer of cocoa beans, both in quantity and quality.
The General Secretary of the ICU, Morgan Ayawine, who made the call, said, regrettably, "We lost this enviable position to Côte d’Ivoire some years ago, and there are even indications that another country is positioning itself to overtake Ghana.
"This reality must serve as a wake-up call to all stakeholders in the cocoa industry to redouble our efforts and raise our standards," Mr Ayawine said at the Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference of the National Consultative Council (NCC) of the Quality Control Company (QCC) Employees Union in Kumasi last Friday.
It was on the theme: “Enhancing Productivity at the Workplace – The Role of Social Partners”.
Quality, Mr Ayawine said, remained the defining hallmark of any product, and it was not an aspect that could ever be compromised.
Role
“Your role as quality controllers is pivotal, as it determines Ghana’s reputation and competitiveness in the global cocoa market.
“It is, therefore, incumbent on management, union leadership, and staff alike to stretch ourselves and recommit to excellence in the discharge of our duties, so that Ghana’s cocoa continues to meet—and exceed—international standards and retains its premium status,” he said.
Mr Ayawine said to achieve that objective, “We require genuine collaboration between Management and staff, anchored in a harmonious union–management relationship”.
He said respect for the collective agreement and adherence to Ghana’s labour laws by all parties were essential prerequisites for industrial peace, productivity and organisational sustainability.
“I, therefore, urge all of us to uphold these values, which are indispensable to the success and longevity of any institution,” he said.
He said it was for that reason that those privileged to work within, and be associated with, the cocoa industry must take pride in their contribution to the growth and development of Ghana’s economy.
He added that the quadrennial delegates’ conference was not only a significant milestone but also a springboard to propel both management and staff of QCC to greater heights, offering an opportunity to explore innovative ways of working that would positively impact the entire cocoa value chain in Ghana.
“In this regard, ICU–Ghana, together with GAWU and TUC (Ghana), is mobilising all relevant stakeholders to seek an audience with the President of the Republic of Ghana to deliberate on practical ways to support and sustain COCOBOD, its divisions, and subsidiaries.
The current situation of PBC Limited would also feature prominently in our discussions with the president,” he said.
The new executives of the NCC of the QCC Employees Union, sworn into office were, the Chairman, Paapa Sarpong Amankwah; Vice Chairman, Richard Botchway; Secretary Justice Bello, and Assistant Secretary, Kennedy Essel, .
Others
The First Trustee is Adane Dankyi Nana Yaw; the Second Trustee, Adutwum Barimah; Executive Member, Bismark Arko-Ofori; Women Representative, Florence Ali Aidoo, and Youth Representative, Stephen Tetteh.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Amankwah said the mission of the union remained clear: to obtain and maintain fair, just and appropriate wages, salaries, hours of work and other conditions of employment for all members.
He said the union also sought to unite its members, cultivate friendship and mutual support, and help provide and promote suitable educational, training and social facilities for members.
