General News of Monday, 1 May 2006

Source: GNA

President calls for unity among workers & govt

Accra, May 1, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday said it was re-assuring that generally organised labour appreciates the direction of government's policy and had pledged its support in the drive towards accelerated national development.

He said the Government had come that far always counting on the continued support and goodwill of the workers of Ghana. President Kufuor, who was addressing this year's May Day Parade in Accra, said he was confident that when all workers united with the Government, the country would achieve its medium term goals perhaps earlier than expected.

The theme for this year's celebration is "Organised Labour in an Era of Increasing Global Challenge."

President Kufuor said a better theme could not have been chosen as the globe was undergoing phenomenal changes, which were posing serious challenges to all nations, including even the most highly advanced and powerful ones.

"Science and Technology continue to break down barriers hitherto considered impregnable. The supersonic speed of movement across the world, which is affecting trade, business and governance, is incredible. "The truth is that, no nation can escape the effects of globalisation, neither can any single country, no matter how well-endowed, deal with them alone, except in partnership with the global community," he said.

President Kufuor said Ghana had always been faithful to its international obligations both regionally and globally, not because of a lack of appreciation of the many problems coming in the wake of the globalisation process.

"Rather it is because of our understanding that until and unless we adopt a policy of pragmatism towards the irreversible trends of globalisation, our eventual losses will be greater than our initial hardship from the process," he explained.

The President, therefore, saluted all workers for their understanding and support and said he was confident that with goodwill on all sides and playing by the rules of corporate Ghana, the nation would succeed.