Members of the Social Partnership Committee taking the oath of secrecy at the inauguration ceremony at the Jubilee House.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, inaugurated the Social Partnership Council, which represents a partnership for development between government, Organised Labour and employers, at a brief ceremony at Jubilee House on Thursday, 30th May, 2019.
It would be recalled that on 18th April, 2019, government, which was represented by the Ministries of Finance and Employment and Labour Relations, signed a landmark social partnership agreement with Organised Labour, which was represented by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and employers represented by the Ghana Employers’ Association.
The social partnership, which is going to be overseen by the Council, provides a platform for reaching national consensus on transformation and development issues.
Speaking at the inauguration, President Akufo-Addo said that the Social Partnership Council “provides a mechanism for building a sense of cohesion, trust and self-management through frank and open discussions about mutual sacrifices and contributions from all stakeholders to champion the cause of Ghana’s development.”
The President commended Organized Labour and employers for their willingness to forge a strong partnership with government to accelerate national development and applauded them warmly for their sense of patriotism.
In the post-IMF era, he said that the social partnership would be a key institutional pillar towards realizing his ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ vision.
“After 62 years of independence, Ghana should be in a position to effectively manage her own affairs. It’s unfortunate that we have had to run to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 16 times in the past to bail us out of economic mismanagement,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“I am sure the entire nation agrees with me when I say there should not be a 17th time, and I am determined to do my part to see to that. This social partnership is a very important institutional mechanism to help us achieve this objective,” he added.
The President reiterated that countries that have successfully transformed their economies and brought prosperity to their peoples have invariably been anchored on a strong partnership between government, labour and employers.
“This relationship is aimed at maintaining industrial peace, promoting productivity growth, engendering national economic competitiveness and ensuring shared prosperity. This is exactly what we seek to do in Ghana,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo wished the Council the very best in their work and looked forward to meeting them from time to time to review its progress and exchange ideas.