Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has blamed the woes of Trade Union Congress (TUC) on the Economic Recovery Program introduced by the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) Regime headed by then Flight Lieutenant (Flt. Lt.) Jerry John Rawlings.
According to him, the genesis of TUC’s woes began when PNDC Regime introduced neo-literal agenda which undermined workers rights and worsened the conditions of Ghanaian workers in its attempt to find solutions to the Ghanaian economy.
“The pursuit of the neo-liberal agenda has to a very large extent undermined workers’ rights, worsen the conditions of our workers…all of this has a genesis in 1982 when the discussions about the future of the Ghanaian economy started. Eventually by 1983 when we then embarked on what we then called the economy recovery program, the stage has been set for the Ghanaian workers’ rights to be trampled upon”, he recounted.
Commenting on the current state of the trade union group vis-a-vis the recently held May Day celebrations on Radio Gold's "Alhaji and Alhaji" programme, the seasoned journalist claimed the economic recovery program launched in 1983 had the agenda of privatizing state enterprises; with more than 400 state enterprises being sold off to foreigners, leaving in its wake massive job loses.
“The few that I can mention, I can mention the Black Star Line and how it completely collapsed, Tema Ship Yard and Drydock which was sold to a Malaysian company, which was so run down that the Mills administration had to take steps in order to retake the possession of the company. As we speak, I don’t know what the fate of Tema Ship Yard and Drydock is; I can mention Ghana Airways which has been collapsed and the only relic which reminds us of Ghana Airways now is a restaurant; it is a chop bar, that the DC 10 PLANE OF GHANA AIRWAYS has been turned into now at the so-called international airport”, he named but a few.
He further revealed that the massive privatization of these state enterprises by PNDC led to a sabotage of the income substitution policy by the government of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
“…that this country has become heavily import dependent with our local industries unable to compete, is partly the result of the privatization of state enterprises which was pursued with vigor in 1983 by the PNDC...there are many aspects of the economic recovery program I need not go into all of that but clearly in the period of 3 years after the program has been launched, more than 400,000 workers lost their jobs,” he disclosed.
Still listing the hallmarks of the Economic Recovery Program he revealed that the PNDC amended the Industrial Relations Act of 1965 and in the process outlawed “solidarity strikes” which gave the workers the right to organize solidarity strikes to support other workers in different state companies to drum home their grievances.
“If you take out the rights of workers to organize solidarity strikes, you weaken workers, you weaken the labour movement, considerably,” he added.
Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]
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Kwesi, for once I agree with you. I remember Kwesi Botchways Economic Recovery 1 (ERC1), ERC2, ERC3, and ERC4 then they moved on to Structural Adjustment Program 1 (SAP1), SAP2 etc,etc. They then started selling state enterprises to themselves. How wicked the PNDC, NDC had been to Ghanaians till today. They have been l00ters from the era of PNDC.
Similar thing happened in Nigeria and most African countries; those IMF programs of structural adjustment and economic recovery programs which led to the total decimation of industrial capacity with consequent import dependence and fiscal instability, which can be described as a reprogramming of the hewers of wood and drawers of water economic model of raw material exploitation, exports, value-addition and then importation with a little bit of aid to cushion against its impact, with no means of generating revenue from increased and deepening economic activity to finance development. It ends in Ghana and Africa today.
You are 100% right. Aboso Glass Factory, Bonsa Tyre Factory, GNTC, UTC, Bata, Nsawam Canary, Asutuare Sugar factory, Komenda Sugar Factory, Ghana Utilities Holding Company, Paper Produce Company, Cocoa Processing Company, Ghana Rubber Estates, Atlantic Hotel, Meridian Hotel, Ambassador Hotel, Garden City Hotel, Ghana Cargo Handling Company, Subin Timbers, Kumasi Jute Factory, Akosombo Textiles, Juapong Textiles, Ghana Textiles Printing, Ghana Food Distribution Company and many many more. Rawlings destroyed the future of this country. Period!! We are now talking about 1D1F. It's unfortunate.