With the aim to strengthen trade union cooperation and partnership in Ghana, BWI and IndustriAll held a planning workshop on 11 July 2022 in Accra to identify more areas for meaningful collaboration.
Through the IndustriEnergi (IE) Norway programme, the two global unions hope to take to another level their cooperation by jointly capacitating young people on digitalisation, addressing climate change and health and safety issues, and promoting a “just transition” to sustainable industries in Ghana.
BWI Regional Representative for Africa and Middle East Crecentia Mofokeng noted that trade unions in different industries are confronted with common challenges. She stressed that the COVID-19 has severely affected the world of work with jobs losses, wage reduction, restrictions to freedom of association and suppression of trade union rights. “It is therefore important to unify our efforts and share experiences on innovative strategies on organising and delivery of needed services to our constituencies,” she said.
Mofokeng added that as BWI prepares for its 5th Global Congress, it will call for more joint actions with fellow global unions and federations at various levels, especially in the promotion of strategies on how countries can “build back better.”
This was supported by IndustriAll Regional Secretary Paule France Ndessomin. ‘‘It is indeed an opportunity for IndustriAll and BWI affiliates in Ghana to use this project to rebuild strong and vibrant trade unions amongst youth and women in the face of challenges imposed by COVID-19 and the skyrocketing prices of oil and other commodities due to the Ukraine war.”
IndustriEnergi International Adviser Ole-Kristian Paulsen expressed satisfaction with the achievements made by the cooperation between BWI and IndustriAll affiliates in Ghana, particularly the creation of a Youth Activist School.
“The Youth Activist School aims to strengthen the youth’s integration and active role in developing and implementing training programmes. Through the support of the young people’s respective mentors, the programme has paved the way for a more vibrant trade union movement in Ghana,” Ole-Kristian said.
Source: BWI
