The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) has appealed to government to expedite processes in raising funding to set up the Women’s Development Bank.
General Secretary of ICU, Morgan Ayawine, made the call when he addressed members in the Upper West Region ahead of its 12th Quadrennial Delegates Conference in Accra.
“The government policy to establish the Women’s Bank is apt, which in no doubt will go a long way in helping women, who constitute a greater proportion of Ghana’s population and also dominate the informal economy.
“The initiative will create quick and easy financial access to women and resource them to embark on productive economic activity that would impact positively on the nation’s economic growth” he explained.
Mr Ayawine pleaded with government to make adequate funding available to sustain the women’s bank when established.
“We would, however, like to advise that the establishment of a Women’s Bank, this time around should not be abandoned mid-way for lack of funds as was the case in the past with the Women’s World Bank” he noted.
The ICU General Secretary further urged government to ensure that it stands the test of time.
“ICU Ghana would therefore like to urge government to be purposeful and consistent about this Women’s Bank project and make it sustainable to bring economic relief to Ghanaian women and their families and by extension to the nation as a whole,” he advised.
Mr Ayawine used the opportunity to also call on the tripartite committee made up of government. labour and employers to ensure that labour agitations are resolved amicable without degenerating into industrial unrest.
“It is important to note that these challenging times in which we find ourselves, every effort must be made by government, employers and labour to address labour related concerns with speed and alacrity in order to forestall unnecessary industrial actions at the workplace. Productivity suffers when there is no peace and harmony within the arena of labour relations” he pointed out.
