Help stem strikes - Veep appeals to Austria
Vice-President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur has urged the Austrian Government to support Ghana with strategies to stem the spate of industrial actions in the country.
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He said although most of the strikes in the country were uncalled for, there was the need “for us to learn from Austria how its social partners are able to prevent industrial action in that country”.
The Vice-President made the appeal when a delegation from the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, led by its President, Dr Christoph Leitl, paid a courtesy call on him to discuss issues of mutual benefit to the two countries at the Flagstaff House in Accra yesterday.
Ghana has, over the years, witnessed a series of industrial actions, some of which had been described by the National Labour Commission (NLC) as illegal.
Mr Amissah-Arthur expressed grave concern about the spate of industrial actions in the country, which he said were detrimental to economic development.
“We have to take advantage of your economic power. I am happy you have identified Ghanaian businesses to partner you to improve the lives of the people of the two countries,” he said
The Vice-President said Ghana had a relatively small but vibrant economy which had been hailed as one of the best on the African continent and underscored the need for more investment in the country.
He expressed the hope that the members of the consultative body of the chamber would follow up on the investment opportunities they struck with their Ghanaian counterparts.
Dr Leitl, for his part, pledged to invest in the health, energy and water sectors of the economy.
“We are giving a lot to your country. We will give to Ghana more than what we will give to the whole of Africa,” he said.
He said there had not been any industrial action in Austria, saying, “We use dispute resolution to create an atmosphere for investment in our country.”
Dr Leitl said Austria had given priority attention to education, paticularly youth education, stressing, “It is our responsibility to educate young people and create a future for them.”
“It is our desire to share our experiences with you in respect of education and youth employment,” he emphasised.
In a related development, the delegation called on the Minister of Roads and Highways, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani.
By Timothy Gobah/Daily Graphic/Ghana