Cape Coast, May 1, GNA- Thirteen workers were on Thursday honoured for their dedication to duty by the Central Regional Secretariat of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC), as part of activities to commemorate this year's May Day celebration, dubbed: "Deepening Democracy in Ghana: The Role of Organized Labour", which was held at Cape Coast and was attended by various workers unions.

The 13 workers were each awarded with a "14-inch" colour television set as their prizes.

Nana Ato Arthur, the Regional Minister, who read the President's address for him, on the occasion, saluted the leadership and all the gallant workers of Ghana, in the public, private and Non Governmental Organization sector for their constructive role in helping to steer Ghana to growing success.

He said, the economy rests on the quality of human resources and for that reason, a new educational reform has been launched since last September to develop high quality human resource with cutting-edge skills and competence. This is to underpin Ghana's Socio-Economic development and render her competitive on the global market.

Nana Ato Arthur, attributed the ascendance of the price of fuel to phenomenal global challenge of the high price of crude oil, adding that, the estimated price of US$85 per barrel which was budgeted for this year has been white washed by the sudden flight of crude prices, recording US$120 in the first quarter of the year.

According to him, the development was unforeseen and most of the world feels threatened by the turbulence on the market, with the ripple effect being the high price of goods, particularly agricultural produce. He further said, the phenomenon was even highlighted by UN Secretary-General Ban Kin-Moon at the just ended UNCTAD XII, where he promised to set up a task force to address the situation

He urged Ghanaians to show awareness of what is happening around the nation, and show "appreciation that, but for the good management, Ghana might have been suffering the same fate as others in the neighbourhood In a speech read for him, Mr Kofi Asamoah, Acting Secretary-General of the Ghana TUC, affirmed the commitment of the TUC to resolutely defend and uphold the democratic foundation on which the future of the nation was built.

He stressed that the TUC shall oppose and resist all measures, policies and actions that violate human and workers rights, encourage media censorship, interference in the judicial and parliamentary processes, ethnocentrism and gender inequality.

He appealed to the government, political parties and stakeholders to exhibit political soberness and maturity, fairness and transparency in the coming elections and demanded serious debar over issues of our time, a clear vision of the future of Ghana and a concrete policy alternatives.

Miss Mercy Arhin, the Mayor of Cape Coast, in a welcoming address, stressed the need for both employer and employee to respect each other and work harmoniously in a peaceful atmosphere to enhance productivity.