President Mahama Charges New Labour Commission to Ensure Fair, Speedy Justice for Workers
President John Dramani Mahama has charged the newly inaugurated seven-member National Labour Commission (NLC) to ensure fairness, consistency and speedy resolution of labour disputes to restore public confidence in the country’s labour dispute resolution system.
He said the credibility of the Commission was essential to building trust between employers and workers and creating stable and fair workplaces that protect the livelihoods of Ghanaians.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, President Mahama stressed that workers who brought grievances before the Commission must be assured of a fair hearing and timely decisions.
“A worker with a grievance wants to know that somebody will hear it and deal with it fairly and expeditiously. And the National Labour Commission has a responsibility to apply rules to the letter,” he said.
The President urged the members to discharge their responsibilities impartially and consistently, noting that the Commission must serve as a trusted institution for resolving disagreements between employers and employees.
He congratulated the new members on their appointments and expressed appreciation to their predecessors for their service to the country.
The new Commission is chaired by Justice Isaac Delali Duose, a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal.
Its membership includes Mr Joseph Kingsley Amuah and Mr Isaac Sackey, representing the Ghana Employers Association; Mr Prince William Ankrah and Mr Abdul-Samad Ali Gomdah, representing Organised Labour; and Madam Rosemond Freeman-Tettey and Mr Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere, who are presidential nominees.
The Commission is responsible for resolving industrial disputes and promoting peaceful labour relations through mediation, arbitration and other dispute resolution processes.
Responding on behalf of the members, Justice Duose thanked President Mahama for the confidence reposed in them and pledged that the Commission would conduct its work with transparency and fairness.
He assured the President that all matters brought before the Commission would be handled impartially, in line with its mandate.
The inauguration comes as the Government seeks to strengthen labour relations and ensure that disputes between workers and employers are resolved through fair and effective institutional processes.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
