General News of Friday, 1 May 2020

Source: 3news.com

Akufo-Addo will deliver May Day address regardless of no celebration – NPP MP hints

President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

The Black Star Square and other parks across the country which on any normal May Day celebration would be filled with thousands of workers from the labour sector will be entirely empty due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Activities to mark this special day for workers have been annulled by Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other stakeholders in a press statement released earlier.

According to the statement, the cancellation is in compliance with restrictions on movement and the ban on public gatherings nationwide as issued by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

In spite of this, a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises, Kofi Okyere-Agyekum, has asserted that the president’s message this year would descend to the people more than in the previous years.

Kofi Okyere-Agyekum, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa South Constituency in the Eastern Region, buttressed his claim by saying that everybody would be at home and would listen attentively to President’s message either on radio or television unlike previous May Day celebration where workers have to march and congregate at the Black Stars Square to listen to President and other speeches.

The legislator revealed this on Thursday, April 30, when speaking in an interview with Nana Yaw Opare (a.k.a Wofa) on the Yensempa morning show on Onua FM.

He indicated that most workers get weary after the march and might not even be listening to the President and other speakers.

“It is unfortunate we find ourselves in this situation but I believe most workers would exceptionally monitor the message from the President and stakeholders from the labor sector,” he said in Akan.

Mr Okyere-Agyekum said the outbreak of coronavirus has hugely hit the economy as some private businesses are on the verge of collapse while some workers are being fired because institutions had to downsize.

He saluted all workers and wished them well in the years ahead.