PRESS RELEASE

The New Patriotic Party in Germany salutes the workers of Ghana and wishes them a happy May Day celebration. On this important day which is celebrated the world over, NPP-Germany is proud to place on record its appreciation and gratitude to all Ghanaian Workers whose toil and sweat has sustained and continues to sustain our beloved country through all these years.

From the Taxi Driver to the Tax Collector, the Market Woman to the Medical Doctor and from the Security Services to the Civil Servant NPP-Germany says Ayekoo for your invaluable contribution towards our national development efforts.

As we celebrate this day, we need to remind ourselves that nation building is the collective responsibility of all citizens and that the Taxi Driver is as important as the Minister for Information. It must also be said that all great nations are built and indeed thrive on the patriotism of their citizens particularly the Youth. Hence there is an urgent need to give our Youth a new orientation with the view to instilling a sense of patriotism in them. NPP-Germany would want to use this day to call on all Ghanaians to be guarded by the fact that the development of our country lies in our own hands as such we must eschew acts and practices that militates against the national interests. The recent unprecedented gargantuan crime (the Woyomegate), the misuse of government property, lateness and absenteeism for instance are detrimental to our attempt at moving the country forward.

It is our conviction that Ghana can and should become a modern, industrial and prosperous country like any country in other parts of the World. However, this can only be realised with the right calibre of leadership that has the vision as well as the right policies and programmes to lead us in this crusade. Clearly, it will be dishonest on our part if we fail to recognise that the past three years have been difficult and traumatic for most Ghanaian workers. Apart from the difficult economic situation, workers have had to contend with non-payment and irregular payment of their duly earned salaries and wages. For the first time in the history of our country, thousands of Ghanaian workers had to spend the 2011 Christmas without receiving their salaries/wages. The inevitable response was the mass industrial unrest which was brutally suppressed by the excessive use of force by the Ghana Police Service; a situation we consider unacceptable.

It should be pointed out that the role and contribution of workers needs to be recognised and appreciated and backed by concrete policies and programmes at all times not just May Day. Once again we say thank you to all Workers of Ghana.

Signed Kwaku Anane-Gyinde Director of Communications NPP-Germany