In
the run up to Ghana’s general elections in December 2016, there have been
increasing calls for peace to prevail in the electioneering processes.
General
Secretary of the Mineworkers Union, Prince William Ankrah, says such calls
should not be taken for granted.
“As Unions, the necessary condition for work is
peace. Therefore, there cannot be work without peace. As working people, it is
therefore important to call on all political parties and their commentators to
approach this year's election with peace at the centre of the discourse,” he
said.
Prince
Ankrah noted that intemperate language and any action or inaction detrimental
to the peace and security of the country must be eschewed at every stage of the
elections.
He expects workers to become ambassadors of peace,
whiles drawing on lessons from other African countries like Liberia, Guinea and
Sierra Leone, who use to run very vibrant mining economies but suffered
devastation from war.
“We therefore wish to call on all major actors,
including the Electoral Commission, political parties, civil societies and all
well meaning Ghanaians to join the crusade in ensuring we deliver on a
successful general election,” said Prince Ankrah.
He
was addressing the National Executive Council Meeting of the Mineworkers Union
in Kumasi.
Industry optimism
Amidst an unprecedented pace of commodity price
slump, rising cost of businesses and startling threats of redundancies starring
everywhere, Ghana’s mining industry looked gloomy with predictions of a
potential crush of the sector by end of 2015.
But
Prince Ankrah points to a positive outlook with the recent jump in the price of
gold on the world market. Gold price has recorded a
22.19% increase the beginning of 2016.
“Even more refreshing, is the latest bullish
prediction that gold price may likely hit $1500 by the close of this year. This
is certainly good news for industry participants,” he said.
He is hopeful “these emerging
trends in the commodity price outlook will continue and get even better going
forward, so that a lot more jobs can be created for our teeming young men and
women, boost the prospects of the Union and also contribute to strengthening
the ailing economy”.
By Kofi Adu Domfeh
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