GRi Newsreel 26-11-99

Union leaders urged to go by laid down procedure

Bunso (Eastern Region) 26 Nov. ’99

Mr D. S. Boateng, a Presidential Staffer, has called on union leaders to adhere to laid down procedures for negotiations instead of adopting confrontational approach.

He said, it has often been the tendency of most unions to concentrate their energies fighting for the right of workers and asking for better service conditions.

He said although, it was not wrong to fight for the rights, which one is entitled, the mode and method used and the approach adopted was crucial.

Mr Boateng was opening the second biennial national delegates' congress of the Ghana National Association of Chieftaincy Workers (GNACWO) at the Bunso Cocoa College, Bunso, in the Eastern Region on Wednesday.

Unions should, therefore, promote unity, peace and solidarity among their members to demonstrate their collective strength at negotiations, he said.

Mr Boateng urged the association to demonstrate these sterling qualities, reminding them that, as workers of chieftaincy institutions, "they should recognise that openness and consensus building is the bedrock of the deliberations at the chiefs' court".

The five-day congress is under the theme "Chieftaincy and good governance: the role of the staff of the chieftaincy division".

The National President of GNACWO, Mr Akwasi A. Ankomah called for better working conditions for the members of the association.

He said expressed regret that poorly defined organisational structure had made promotions to higher levels almost impossible with the result that many officers have not been promoted for over 17 years.

Mr Ankomah mentioned lack of motivation as some of the problems affecting the morale of the workers.

He, however, gave the assurance that the association would continue to work harder even in these trying circumstances to contribute towards the uplifting of the chieftaincy institution and good governance in the country.

Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, Okuapehene, and the President of the Eastern Regional Houses of Chiefs, who chaired the function, noted that the country now enjoys stability and peace due to the institution of chieftaincy.

He expressed the hope that the congress would sharpen their skills to enable them to improve on their performance.

Topics being discussed include "Chieftaincy and good governance", "Relationship between the government and the chieftaincy institution", "Personnel policy and administration within the chieftaincy division" and "The Civil Servant Association of Ghana and the Ghana Universal Salary Structure".

The congress is expected to elect new national executives for a two-year term.

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More people benefit from poverty fund in East Mamprusi

Gambaga (Northern Region) 26 Nov ’99

The East Mamprusi District Assembly has disbursed a total of 175.5 million cedis to 97 groups under its poverty alleviation programme this year.

A total of 293 individual members of the groups received various sums of money to expand their economic ventures and farms.

The district co-ordinating director of administration, Mr Hakeem Banda, announced this when he addressed the third batch of the beneficiary groups who received 63.5 million cedis.

He advised the beneficiaries to use the loan for the purpose it was granted to be able to pay back on schedule.

The manager of the East Mamprusi Community Bank, Mr Charles Ammah, explained that the loans are given from a revolving fund and any default in repayment denies other applicants of the opportunity to benefit.

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