Daboase (Western Region) 10th June '99

Mr J.H.Owusu- Acheampong, Minister of Food and Agriculture, on Tuesday called on organised labour to encourage good worker-management relations to ensure industrial harmony.

Organised labour, he said, has to support the government's investment drive and help disabuse the minds of investors that "Ghana is not a safe place to do business".

Mr Owusu- Acheampong said this during a visit to the Subri Industrial Plantation,(SIPL) where he was briefed on interest being shown by investors in the company's pulp and paper mill project at Daboase.

He said confrontational attitude of workers could make potential investors think that there is no industrial harmony in the country.

He urged workers to resolve conflicts with their managements through dialogue.

Mr Mr George Naab, SIPL managing director, who brief the minister and his entourage said investors from China, Korea and a number of Western countries have submitted proposals for joint partnership in the company's pulp and paper mill project.

The company is diversifying its operations into the timber industry and furniture production, he told the minister, adding that it has recently won contracts for the supply of furniture.

A loan was being sought from the Agriculture Development Bank for the purchase of the necessary equipment to execute the contract.

Mr Owusu- Acheampong and his entourage also paid a courtesy call on Nana Adwoa Kyewa Assibuo II, chief of Daboase.