The Trades Union Congress, the largest trade union organisation in Ghana, composed of 18 autonomous affiliate unions, launched what is terms, its own manifesto, referred to as the Workers’ Manifesto, and presented a signed copy to former President, John Mahama, when they hosted him at the Hall of Trade Unions Conference Room in Accra on Tuesday.
Secretary –General, TUC, Dr. Yaw Baah said the purpose of the gathering was to launch the Workers’ Manifesto and present a copy to former President Mahama after which the platform would be given the NDC flagbearer to outline his vision and plans.
Yaw Baah said although the TUC is non-partisan in character, it holds national affairs dear to its heart, that is why the TUC would similarly host the NPP flagbearer, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia on December, 5 to also explain his vision and a signed copy of Workers’ Manifesto would also be presented to him.
it is the first time that the TUC decided to come up with its own manifesto which represents the interests of workers at its core, and provides the basis for TUC’s engagement with political parties.
He indicated that the Workers’ Manifesto is divided into five main areas and these are; Social Policy with a focus on human development, Economic Policy, Labour Market, Energy and Power and finally, Governance.
Dr. Baah noted that under social policy, food security, affordable housing, sanitation and access to water forms the highlights. Under economic policy, the TUC believes the current macroeconomic policy adopted in the 1980s needs to be reviewed. Dr. Baah observed that the inflation targeting policy has been a catastrophic failure.
The labour organization believes tackling supply side constraints will fundamentally address the problem. Other areas under macroeconomic policy such as issues with the Bank of Ghana, Trade Policy with a bias towards the protection of infant industries, Public Debt and Investment Policy.
The TUC Secretary-General expressed the need to formalize the informal economy since its forms the largest segment of thecountry’s active economy.
For his part, the former President, thanked the TUC for the warm welcome and solidarity. He said the NDC will study the contents of the Workers’ Manifesto carefully and incorporate relevant sections into the Peoples’ Manifesto, which is the NDC’s vision.
John Mahama stated that as social democrats, the NDC believes in social justice and equity and hence prioritises the welfare and well-being of the ordinary Ghanaian. Thus, to him, the NDC and TUC are allies since they both share the values and principles of social democracy.
He noted that the current economic situation can largely be ascribed to self-infliction because of incoherent and extravagant policies. Inflation and interest rate volatility erodes purchasing power of workers, he observed.
Quoting the World Bank, the former President noted that a total of 850,000 Ghanaians have been pushed into poverty in the past year alone. He said the economic catastrophe has affected every aspect of national life.
His ambition, if power is given him, is to halt this steep decline in the economy and restore it to macroeconomic stability. NDC will roll out realistic policies such as placing a moratorium on all non-concessional borrowing, for instance, he indicated.
They will re-establish the Sinking Fund and stop the collateralization of statutory funds. NDC will also reduce the size of government and merge ministerial portfolios among others. They will review and eliminate ex-gratia.
