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ICU-Ghana backs NLC on appointment of commissioners
To deal effectively and expeditiously with labour grievances and disputes between workers and employers, and to give fair and equitable judgement to either parties as the case may be, the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union-Ghana (ICU) has thrown its weight behind the Executive secretary of the National Labour Commission’s (NLC) call to have, full-time Commissioners appointed to serve on the Commission.
It will be recalled that in the Saturday 28th August, 2021 issue of the Daily Graphic, the Executive Secretary of the NLC is reported to have asked that permanent and not part-time Commissioners must be appointed to serve on it.
With respect to the Executive Secretary’s genuine request for the provision to be made. Bro. Morgan Ayawine, General Secretary of ICU in an interview noted that, the ICU saw the Commission, – a tailor-made institution – as important in the justice system in Ghana and that it deserved serious attention.
He averred that the labour landscape in the country was replete with grievances and disputes between workers and employers, a development he saw as incompatible with growth and development of any nation whether a developing or developed country.
He said the ICU-Ghana, a heterogeneous trade union organisation with membership in over 700 companies and organisations has many unresolved grievances and disputes at the enterprise level being considered by the Commission, and that, the ICU could attest to the genuine concerns raised by the Executive Secretary of the Commission.
He explained that the part-time status of the Commissioners limited their sitting on cases to only once in a week and, indeed, affected the dispensation of justice both to workers and employers adding that, the situation created rancorous relationship between social partners at the workplace and ultimately affected productivity by lowering production, leading to revenue loss, low incomes and job losses to the detriment of the economy.
He noted further that, part-time sitting of Commissioners reflected the inadequacy of the sitting sessions thus giving rise to a backlog of cases left unatended to by the Commission, – a situation he described as unfortunate. “Government will have to resource the very under-resourced commission to deliver on its mandate effectively and efficiently and to give real meaning to the rule of law in Ghana” he said.
The General Secretary said the call for the appointment of Permanent Commissioners was in the right direction since, the world of work had changed due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic with its consequential industrial disharmony at some workplaces.
“The situation we find ourselves in now demands that the National Labour Commission acts swiftly to adjudicate on cases before it” he said.
Bro Ayawine affirmed the ICU’s support for the suggestion that adjudication on cases brought before the Commission be done on daily basis to bring justice to aggrieved parties in time, “as justice delayed is justice denied”.
The ICU-Ghana, according to him supported the Executive Secretary’s appeal to government to absorb the fees and charges of mediators and arbitrators since some complainants were unable to afford. Thus denying them justice.
He appealed to organised labour and others in the labour fraternity as well as the Ghana Employers Association (GEA) to contribute their quota towards the empowerment of the National Labour Commission to enable it deliver effectively for the collective good of the nation and above all, to operate from a secure and convenient premises worthy of the Commission’s status
Mrs Patience Antonio, a Child and Family Development Advocate, has called for a national campaign to reduce the growing reliance on breast milk substitutes among nursing mothers in Ghana.
According to Mrs Antonio, scientific evidence shows that breastfeeding improves a child’s emotional stability, boosts intelligence, strengthens the immune system, and provides long-term health benefits. She made these remarks in an interview with The Spectator in Accra last week, emphasizing the importance of breastfeeding for a child’s overall development.
She explained that breastfeeding is not just a biological act of feeding but a key emotional and developmental bridge between mother and child. She also highlighted the need for the recommended six-month maternity leave period to ease the pressure on mothers to return to work prematurely.
“Breastfeeding creates intimacy and trust. It assures the baby of love and security, which becomes the foundation for their emotional health,” Mrs Antonio noted, warning that abandoning exclusive breastfeeding could have long-term implications on children’s social and emotional wellbeing.
Consequently, she called for a minimum of five months of fully paid maternity leave for Ghanaian mothers to enable effective breastfeeding, bonding, and healthier child development. She also urged workplaces to implement family-friendly policies, including private spaces for breastfeeding, flexible working arrangements for nursing mothers, and stronger support systems for new parents.
Mrs Antonio further encouraged families and society to actively support mothers during breastfeeding, stressing that many women struggle due to lack of assistance at home or the pressure to return to work too soon. She emphasized, “If we want a healthier, emotionally stable generation, then we must make breastfeeding a priority and support mothers to do it without stress.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Spectator
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The Nanvili Community School in the Mion District of the Northern Region is facing severe infrastructural challenges, affecting teaching and learning for pupils in the area.
The school, which serves five surrounding communities with a total of 58 pupils, has deteriorated to the extent that many children have stopped attending classes. Poor classroom conditions and the lack of desks have made teaching and learning difficult. During a visit to the school, the gate-free classrooms were found filled with goat and sheep droppings.
During the rainy season, both teachers and pupils are often cut off from the school due to bad roads and flooding. Teaching activities are frequently suspended for weeks, negatively affecting academic performance.
The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. Dawuni Mutawakil, expressed concern, noting that the situation is worrying since these pupils are expected to compete with their counterparts in urban areas who have access to better facilities. He added that due to limited space, classes have been merged, with pupils from Primary One and Two, Three and Four, and Five and Six sharing the same classrooms.
The Chief of Nanvili, Abu Kassim, also appealed to the government and non-governmental organisations to come to the aid of the community. He emphasized that the current state of the school discourages children from nearby communities from attending.
Both the Chief and Assemblyman have called for urgent intervention to improve infrastructure and provide furniture for the pupils to ensure quality education for children in the Nanvili area.
By Geoffrey Buta, Nanvili, Northern Region
Spectator
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