Bolgatanga, Nov. 13, GNA - Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister on Friday appealed to workers of Ghana Cotton Company Limited (GCCL) to exercise restraint over their grievances concerning working conditions. He said the Ministries of Food and Agriculture and Trade and Industr= y are finding solutions to their problems. Mr Woyongo said government had invested more than GH¢408,000 in th= e cotton industry this year, adding that the crop is ready for harvesting so if the workers refused to work, the money invested into production would go waste. Mr Woyongo made the appeal at a meeting with the staff of GCCL in Bolgatanga. He assured the workers that government is committed to pay their outstanding salaries. Mr Moses Bukari Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister told the worker= s that the cotton industry would be revamped under the Savannah Accelerated=

Development Authority. He expressed the need for people in the North to develop sheanut and=

cotton, which are the two cash crops in the area. Mr Samuel Musah, Local Chairman of the Trade Union's Congress, read a list of the workers grievances and demands, which among other things call= ed for the provision of resources to pay the salaries and allowances of the workers as well as the purchase of seed cotton, payment of utility bills= , ginnery and transport maintenance.