News
Ayawine succeeds Kotei as ICU General Secretary
At the just ended 11th Quadrennial Delegates Congress of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU)-Ghana, Bro Mogan Ayawine was elected the 9th General Secretary of the Union by popular acclamation with Bros. Emmanuel Baah Benimah and Samuel Anaga elected to the positions of Deputy General Secretaries responsible for Operations and Administration respectively.
The three-day event was held by virtual screening from August 25-27, 2021, at the University of Professional Studies-Accra, the first time in the union’s history, and saw satisfactory participation by delegates drawn from all over the union’s constituencies nationwide.
Other national leaders elected are, Alhaji Nuru-Deen Alhassan, National Chairman, Bro. Paul Kofi Charwey, National Vice-Chairman, Bro. Charles Kojo Yeboah, National 1st Trustee and Sister Jemimah Senaye-Bentum, National 2nd Trustee.
During the just ended tenure of Bro Solomon Ashaley Kotei as General Secretary, Bro. Morgan Ayawine was Deputy General Secretary, in-charge of Operations whilst Bro. Emmanuel Baah Benimah was also Deputy General Secretary responsible for Administration.
Bro. Samuel Ananga who is Deputy General Secretary-Administration was then the Tema Regional Officer of the ICU.
Labour and Industry observers see the new leadership as having a task ahead particularly in this COVID-19 pandemic period characterised by economic challenges on the local front and globally.
The latest change in leadership of the ICU saw a fulfillment of the demands of the Union’s Constitution, in that for the first time in its history, a sitting General Secretary, Bro. Solomon Kotei democratically handed over the mantle of leadership to his successor after two terms of eight years in office without squabbles.
In all this, other observers see the current leadership as principled and would build on the gains so far chalked by the previous leadership.
Brother Ayawine, in an interview noted that the current national leadership would strive to sustain the gains made over the years by the union and follow the “tried and tested pathway” of his predecessor.
General Secretaries, particularly Bro. Solomon Kotei the immediate past General Secretary whose knowledge and expertise he said he would “tap into” as and when the need arose.
He said in the current COVID-19 pandemic period, the Union would collaborate with its social partners (employers) more than ever before to attain increased contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.
Brother Ayawine emphasised that the union would not relent on its fight to ensure that the fundamental trade union rights of workers were respected and upheld in accordance with the laws of the land.
He noted that the Union would approach all negotiations in a very civil manner, without confrontation so as to ensure industrial peace and harmony at the workplace in particular, and in the country in general for sustainable growth and development.
By Spectator Reporter
National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Executive Committee member and Volta River Authority (VRA) Board Member, Wonder Victor Kutor, has described calls for the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as premature and unjustified.
He argued that there was no evidence to establish that the minister had committed any wrongdoing to warrant such demands.
Speaking on Joy News in Accra on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Mr Kutor questioned what had changed to justify the growing calls for the minister to step down.
He recalled that the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, had earlier indicated that the opposition was not accusing Mr Ablakwa of any wrongdoing.
Mr Kutor, therefore, challenged those demanding the minister’s resignation to provide fresh evidence to support their position.
“The call for the Minister to resign is premature, it is untenable. There is no evidence. I mean, what has he done wrong?” he questioned.
He added that documents, including boarding passes, airline receipts and flight manifests relating to the minister’s return journey, had been provided.
Mr Kutor expressed concern that the calls for Mr Ablakwa’s resignation could discourage young politicians from speaking out against corruption and advocating transparency.
According to him, politicians should not be targeted or maligned for demanding accountability, warning that such treatment could create the impression that speaking against corruption could later become a liability when one is appointed to public office.
He maintained that calling for accountability and transparency should not be used as grounds to target public officials without evidence of wrongdoing.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana will host the Africa Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTAC) 2026 alongside Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA) 2026 in Accra from December 9 to 12, 2026.
On the back of these programmes, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on corporate Ghana, the media and the general public to support the initiative through partnerships, sponsorships and active participation.
The events, supported by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), will bring together stakeholders to celebrate Africa’s rich cultural heritage, strengthen the creative economy, promote industrial skills development and create employment opportunities for young people.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
