Unlike previous May Day celebrations which witnessed angry-looking workers clad in red and black clothes to signify their dissatisfaction with government's labour relations, this year's celebration of the labour day saw large number of workers clad in white clothes singing joyful songs at the Independence Square in Accra.

But beyond the smiling faces were screaming placards, which expressed some unfinished business that workers would want the new government to tackle urgently.

"Government restore ESB" and "positive change must reflect in our pockets," some of the placards read.

This was surmised by the new Secretary General of Ghana Trade Union Congress, Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, in his maiden May Day address.

"The Trade Union Congress will remain vigilant and hold the NPP Government to its campaign platform to lead Ghana to consolidate democracy and achieve positive change as well as prosperous well being for the entire population." Adu Amankwah said.

Earlier, the Secretary General hinted that the labour movement accepted what he described as "sacrificial" wage on the principle that the new administration would initiate policies to improve the weak economy.

The government raised the minimum wage to ?5,500 a day. The increase represents thirty-one percent over the previous minimum wage.

Adu-Amankwah said if the government fails to achieve its set targets, labour would insist that workers' conditions of service are improved and End of Service Benefits restored.

"We shall demand to see the material benefits of our sacrifices and, we call on government to rise up to its tasks." Adu-Amankwah said.

The TUC also emphasised the need for organised labour to be involved in the decision-making process as part of the positive change sweeping across the country. The union restated its displeasure about how the decision to go HIPC was taken.

Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Finance Minister announced government's decision to go HIPC days after the President had promised a national debate on the Initiative.

President John Kufuor who joined the workers for his first May Day celebrations explained that the administration went HIPC because of the economic mess bequeathed to it by the previous government.

"Believe me, faced with all the facts and figures at hand, and the constitutional requirement that we produce a budget within two months of coming into office, we had no alternative but to opt for the HIPC initiative," Kufuor said.

Touching on the theme of the May Day celebration, "Consolidating democracy in Ghana: The role of trade unions", the Secretary General said TUC appreciates the importance of democracy for any serious effort towards development.

Adu-Amankwah pointed out that the unhindered exercise of all rights enshrined in the Constitution holds the key to industrial peace. The TUC boss therefore asked the government and the employers association to exert their influence and bring to book employers who abuse the rights of workers.

"I recognise that my government will succeed in achieving its stated objective only when it is able to get workers to play their role in this partnership of government, employers and workers," Kufuor said.

The President, together with his vice, some ministers of State and leading NPP functionaries later in the afternoon joined the leadership of TUC and a cross section of workers at a reception at the GBC Club House.