Accra (Greater Accra) 2 Feb. 2000 Government said it has taken a serious view of attempts by the leadership of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) to malign and ridicule it through false representations of the labour situation abroad.

Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare told newsmen in Accra that the ICU has persistently made misleading reports regarding the government's position in the conflict and the subsequent split between the Union and the Textile, Garment and Leather Employees' Union (T'GLEU).

He was reacting to reports circulating among international labour organisations that accused the government of making deliberate attempts to weaken the ICU.

The reports further accused the state-owned media, particularly the "Daily Graphic," which, it said was being used to intimidate and silence the leadership and members of the ICU.

Alhaji Mumuni confirmed that the Ministry received a letter from the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa expressing concern about the allegations.

The Minister said it is unfortunate that the government should be maligned and ridiculed internationally because of a conflict between two workers' unions.

"It is also regrettable that a national workers' union, which has received so much support from (the) government over the years should under the guise of a flimsy excuse, turn round to accuse (the) government of weakening and silencing a democratic union." The Minister called for an apology from the ICU.

"We strongly demand an unqualified apology from the ICU for causing so much damage to the image of Ghana in international circles. The country enjoys a reputation of honour in its commitment to the ideals of freedom and counted among the shining examples of hope, in the thriving democracies of Africa today."

He explained events leading to the breakaway saying it started with some internal bickering and mutual misunderstanding between the two sides which later degenerated into a full blown administrative conflict, and later fragmentation and the subsequent formation of T'GLU as a separate Union.

Alhaji Mumuni said the Ministry, as well as the International Textiles Union based in Brussels jointly made efforts to settle the matter, culminating in an agreement signed by the two parties to merge but things did not work out for reasons best known to both sides.

He reiterated that much assistance was offered to the ICU and T'GLEU without any bias, adding "the personalities from the two sides of the conflict themselves, it appeared, constituted even greater obstacles to peace, than the substantive issues at stake".

He said the government recognises dialogue and consensus building as essential to the evolving conducive working relationship between it and its social partners and would not allow rivalry between any groups to derail the congenial tripartite partnership the country now enjoys. "Harmonious labour-management relations is crucial for an accelerated development and (the) government would continue to work to promote it", he added.