Accra, May 20, GNA - Mr. William Mensah, General Secretary of the Local Government Workers Union (LGWU) of Trades Union Congress on Tuesday called on unionists to work diligently to establish a popular local government system prepared to assist in enhancing national development.

"Our choice of employment gives us the responsibility to go the extra mile to ensure popular participation as we engage in the process of bringing local administration to the people at the grass roots", he said.

Mr Mensah said this at the Greater Accra Regional LGWU Delegates' Conference to deliberate on issues pertaining to the union and also elect new regional executives for four years tenure of office. The conference under the theme: 'LGWU Strengthening Capacity to Meet Local Government Service Challenges' would identify best practices in fashioning out systems and procedures for the provision of quality services and ensure increase in productivity.

Mr. Mensah said it was important for members of the union to take key interest in its assigned responsibilities and work diligently to earn what it deserved in the struggle to establish local government system and a labour union. He said the union had acquired a Collective Bargaining Certificate for all employees of Metro, Municipal and District Assemblies for negotiation to have better service conditions for local government workers.

Mr. Mensah said the union was opened to all, especially civil servants and encouraged them to join to access legitimate human and trade union rights.

He acknowledged the serious constraints to the establishment of appropriate structures and institutions within the union and that it was due to acute shortage of technical and professional personnel. Mr Daniel Addo, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the union said privatization of assemblies properties was gradually becoming a bane on their growth and called on government to reconsider its decision. Mr Harry Pieterson, the Regional Secretary, urged members to always seek for information to enable them to make meaningful contributions to the union and advocated for the need to include women at the decision level. Mr. Daniel Addo, was re-elected the regional chairman, Mr Anthony Oppong, Vice Chairman while Ms Margaret Collison became the second vice chairperson. Ms Victoria Sarko is the first regional trustee while Ms Mary Sackey is the second trustee. Mr Wilson Mante becomes the representative on the National Executive Council of the TUC.