GAWU HOLDS PUBLIC LECTURE IN BOLGATANGA (PAGE 35, NOV 2)

THE General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) has held a public lecture in Bolgatanga as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the union. The theme for the golden jubilee anniversary was: “50 years of organising agricultural workers for development: Achievements, challenges and prospects”.
Speaking at the ceremony, the General Secretary of GAWU, Mr Kingsley Ofei-Nkansah, said GAWU believed strongly that industrialisation rather than export-led growth was vital if the nation was to make any significant gains from trade.
He emphasised that one of the lessons of the global crises was that countries depending on agricultural and other primary commodities for export would remain vulnerable to the crises that were not their own making.
“In this connection, GAWU is quick to observe that the Ghana School Feeding and Free School Uniform Programmes could be used strategically to leverage the production of food and the development of the textile industry”, he said.
Mr Ofei-Nkansah reiterated GAWU’s call on the government not to initial the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement.
He lauded the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for taking steps to support the locally produced rice by directing that local rice be served at all state functions.
The Upper East Regional Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Mr Augustine Adongo commended GAWU on the occasion of its golden jubilee celebration.
He expressed the hope that the union would continue to seek the interest of agricultural sector workers.