Workers mark May Day in regions with parades

Parades were held across the country last Thursday to commemorate International Workers Day or Labour Day, which has also commonly been referred to as May Day, as it is marked on the first day of May.

Mostly marked with rallies and speeches, May Day was first marked on May 1, 1890, after its proclamation by the first international congress of socialist parties in Europe on July 14, 1889, in Paris, France, to dedicate May 1 every year as a "Workers' Day of International Unity and Solidarity."

Ghanaian workers observed their first May Day in 1960, three years after the country gained independence and Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was declared the "First Number One Worker" and decorated with a May Day Award by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), under the leadership of the Union’s Secretary-General, Mr J. K. Tettegah.

Since then, the day has been observed almost every year, with organised labour using it as an opportunity to demand better working conditions and remuneration from the government for workers.

Gilbert Mawuli Agbey reports from Bolgatanga that last Thursday, the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, assured workers, especially those working in the Bawku area, that they will be provided with the needed security to go about their official duties.

He appealed to the workers not to desert the town, as the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) was doing everything possible to improve the security situation so that they could freely render services to the people.

“I must say that if you leave the place, you will be risking the lives of the thousands of people living in the area.

We will make sure that the needed security is provided for the benefit of workers,” he assured.

He urged the TUC and labour unions to ensure that workers adhered to their professional ethics to positively contribute their quota to the development of their respective sectors.

The National Chairman of the Local Government Services Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Moses Awenkanaab Awarikaro, added his voice to the call for improved security in the region towards the retention of workers.

The Regional Secretary, TUC, Scholastica Tagtir Dery, read the Secretary-General’s address to the teeming workers.

Highlights

Hundreds of workers belonging to the various unions converged at the Jubilee Park in Bolgatanga to participate in this year’s May Day celebrations.

Members of TEWU taking part in the parade in Bolgatanga

As part of the event, the workers embarked on a parade, holding placards with various inscriptions to communicate their concerns to the government for them to be addressed.

Some of the inscriptions read: “Pay equity; to Ghana’s development”, “Strong workers, strong nation”, “Better working conditions, a right not a privilege” and “Fair pay today, prosperous Ghana tomorrow”.

Others were: “Pay us living wages for better conditions”, “Mr President, implement conditions of service now”, “Pay road contractors”, “Our road network is deteriorating” and “Bring back tolls now”, among others.

Fifteen deserving and hardworking workers from some labour unions were each awarded with citations and refrigerators as a way of motivating them, for others to emulate.

Sunyani

From Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital, Biiya Mukusah Ali reports that hundreds of workers from the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions converged on the Sunyani Jubilee Park to observe this year's Workers' Day.

The event brought together various worker unions, associations and security services.

They were joined by the Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, and the Bono East Regional Minister, Francis Owusu Antwi.

Other dignitaries were the Bono Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo; the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Vincent Antwi Adjei, and some regional commanders of the security agencies.

The workers celebrated May Day with a parade at which they educated the public and expressed their grievances on placards that were wielded during the march.

Some of the inscriptions were: "Don't buy street food close to gutters", "Complete the white elephant facilities", "Say no to illegal mining", "Protect our waterbodies" and "Don't buy medicines from bus terminals, information centres and paddles".

Others were: "Judicial staff deserve more", "Better condition of service for midwives”, "Teachers need incentives", "Give us our responsibility allowance" and "Sunyani Airport needs expansion", among others.

Float

As early as 6:30a.m, some of the workers had embarked on a float through the principal streets of Sunyani to create awareness of the day, before converging on the park.

The workers sang convocational songs and recited the national pledge to demonstrate their patriotism and renew their commitment to the development of the country.

In all, 18 workers from the three regions received awards for their dedication and contributions towards their work and the development of the country.

The Bono Regional Minister, Mr Akwaboa, said the government was committed to implementing policies that aim at creating more decent jobs, upgrading skills and improving working conditions across all sectors.

"Our efforts in revamping agriculture, supporting entrepreneurship and boosting industrialisation are encouraging, and the results would shortly be felt by all," he said.

Hohoe

Workers in the Volta and Oti regions also converged on the Franco Park in Hohoe to take part in a parade to mark this year’s May Day on the theme: “Resetting Pay and Working Conditions in Ghana – The Role of Stakeholders”. Our reporter, Alberto Mario Noretti, sent in from Hohoe.

The celebration also included cultural displays and the presentation of awards and citations to outstanding workers.

Among the deserving workers honoured was the Volta Regional Coordinating Director, Augustus Awity, who was recognised for exemplary service.

The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, re-affirmed the government’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare, with enhanced National Health Insurance support and pension reforms, and to job creation under the 24-hour economy.

He said the government would abide by its pledge to promote living wages and not just minimum wages among workers.

Mr Gunu maintained that workers’ rights were human rights and decent work was the foundation for national prosperity.

The Oti Regional Minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong, commended the workers for their hard work and dedication to the national development agenda.

Cape Coast

From Cape Coast, Shirley Asiedu-Addo reports that about 20 unionised groups participated in the May Day celebration, advocating for improved working conditions for all public sector employees.

The workers marched from Mfantsipim Junction, through major streets of the Cape Coast Metropolis, converging at Victoria Park to be addressed.

They carried placards, some of which read: "We demand better salaries,” "Reinstate dismissed workers”, and "We demand adequate pension provisions".

The Central Regional Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Cynthia Amonoo, urged the government to enhance working conditions and base salaries, stating that the current situation is adversely affecting the socio-economic well-being of public sector workers.

She also highlighted the harmful impact of illegal mining, also known as galamsey, on both the environment and human lives, calling on the government and relevant agencies to enforce a complete ban on such activities.

The Central Regional Minister, Ekow Panyin Okyere, commended Ghanaian workers for their hard work and encouraged them to remain dedicated to advancing the nation’s interests.

He assured that the government would commit to ensuring the well-being of the Ghanaian workers through prudent policies.

Deserving union members were awarded for their selfless dedication and commitment to serving the country.

Koforidua

From the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua, Haruna Yussif Wunpini reports that hundreds of workers converged at the Koforidua Jackson Park to mark this year’s May Day celebration.

Various worker unions, such as the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU), Health Services Workers Union (HSWU), Ghana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) and Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) took part in a parade.

Some workers who distinguished themselves were awarded and presented with deep freezers and refrigerators.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, who addressed the workers, said May Day was to keep in mind that behind every hospital, school, factory built, road constructed, every innovation made and every community uplifted were workers consisting of men and women.

That, she indicated, was because sweat and dedication made progress possible and that the labour force had shaped the course of history, adding that their sacrifices and hard work had been recognised.

Mrs Awatey stated that this year’s theme: "Resetting Pay and Working Conditions in Ghana: The Role of Stakeholders”, reflected the need for a bold and collaborative approach towards improving the conditions of service for the workers, especially in the face of economic challenges and a rapidly evolving labour market.

The minister, therefore, called for all workers to reaffirm their commitment to dignity in their work to protect the rights of workers to fair wages, safe and inclusive workplaces and opportunity for all regardless of background.

Mrs Awatey said the contributions of Ghanaian workers were the fulcrum on which the national development effort hinged and that whether in education, health, security, industry or agriculture, workers had stood firm, often in the face of adversity, to ensure the continuity of essential services and the growth of the country's economy.

The government, Mrs Awatey said, remained committed to meaningful dialogue and engagement with organised labour on challenges faced, submitting that workers were working tirelessly to create a stable economic environment that could support fair wages and sustainable job creation.

The Eastern Regional Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Phyllis Agyeman, said Ghanaian workers continued to bear the burden of the recent economic crisis, such as the rising cost of living, inflationary shocks and declining real incomes.

Tamale

In Tamale, about 33 labour unions converged on the Jubilee Park to mark the May Day celebration, Mohammed Fugu reports.

They held placards with messages such as “Pay your bill promptly,” “Illegal connection is a sin,” “Let’s not deliver babies in darkness,” “Recruit more staff to increase productivity,”

“Tamale needs more water,” “Teachers deserve better” and “Implement deprived area allowance now.”

The Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, who graced the occasion, commended the workers for their invaluable contribution towards the development of the nation.

He stressed the importance of re-evaluating and restructuring labour policies to ensure fairness, productivity and sustainability.

“Resetting pay and working conditions means ensuring wages commensurate with the effort, skills and productivity of workers to provide a decent standard of living for them to thrive," he said.

For her part, the Northern Regional Secretary of the TUC, Felicia Kraja, lamented that Ghanaian workers were bearing the brunt of the recent economic crisis despite the poor conditions of service.

She expressed concern about the growing debts in the energy sector, which was threatening the sector’s sustainability and the country’s overall fiscal stability.

"We do not agree with the proposed privatisation of ECG as a solution to the energy sector challenges, but we acknowledge the need for reforms," she stated.

Ms Kraja also condemned the indiscriminate termination of appointments in the public sector, citing recent mass terminations at the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), where employees recruited five years ago were not spared.