Political parties must exhibit maturity in utterances – TUC
Mr Elvis S. Van-Lare, the Volta Regional Trades Union Congress (TUC) Secretary, has asked political parties in the country to exhibit maturity in their utterances and activities ahead of the November General Election.
He said: “Elections are not about tribes neither are they a beauty contest, hence the parties must refrain from unguarded statements that do not place food on the table of ordinary Ghanaians.”
Mr Van-Lare was addressing this year’s May Day in Ho on the theme: “Election 2016: The Role of Workers in Securing Peaceful Elections for National Development.”
He asked the parties to focus on important socio-economic issues such as cost of living, unemployment, housing and sanitation and not “trivial issues”.
“This election must not be about issues that divide us and undermine national unity and cohesion,” Mr Van-Lare said.
He called on civil society organisations and the media to place issues of job creation and improvement in incomes on the political agenda and “banish forever” the politics of trivialities.
Mr Van-Lare asked the media to set the “right agenda that will inform the choices of Ghanaians in an intelligent way.”
“The media must realise that intellectuals do not dabble in frivolities,” he said.
Mr Van-Lare pledged the readiness of Organised Labour to ensure peaceful elections and urged workers not to allow themselves to be used by political parties, because their jobs will not be secured by fighting on behalf of political parties.
On worker rights, he urged the Government to help stem the tide of abuse of workers’ rights by increasing funding for labour market institutions charged with responsibilities to secure the workplace and protect workers.
Madam Helen Adjoa Ntoso, the Volta Regional Minister, recognised the commitment and service of workers to the development of the country.
She underscored the importance of peace to national development and urged workers to avoid being lured to disrupt the peace before, during and after the elections.
Madam Ntoso asked women in particular to caution their husbands and children against beating “war drums” ahead of the polls.
She said government was committed to playing its role for peace to prevail in the country and charged individuals and associations to allow the Electoral Commission to perform its duties as demanded by the Constitution.
Twenty seven individuals were honoured for their meritorious service.
Source: GNA