From L to R: Salamatu Mahamah Braimah, Richmond Sakyi, Olivia Oparebia Obuobi, King James Azortibah, Charles Kofi Osei, Fati Bintu Adamu and Ken Botchway taking the oath of office
The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union, TEWU of TUC-Ghana, has elected its first female national chairperson of the union.
The election of the Deputy Registrar at the Accra Technical University, Madam Salamatu Mahamah Braimah, as the chairperson comes after 65 years of TEWU’s existence.
Madam Braimah, who until the election was the Union’s Second National Vice Chairperson, succeeded Ambrose Yao Kwadzodza, the immediate past National Chairman.
The Chief Finance Officer of TEWU of TUC Ghana, King James Azortibah, was also elected the new General Secretary to take over from Mark Dankyira Korankye, while, the immediate past Deputy General Secretary, Charles Kofi Osei, was re-elected for the same position.
They were elected at the 13th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference, of TEWU of TUC-Ghana held at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Gomoa Fetteh near Kasoa in the Central Region.
Others who were victorious at the conference were Olivia Oparebia Obuobi and Ken Botchway, elected as the Second National Vice Chairperson and Second National Trustee respectively. Two others, Richmond Sakyi, and Fati Bintu Adamu, went unopposed for the First National Vice Chairman and the First National Trustee positions respectively.
Deputy TUC Secretary General, Joshua Ansah, swore the new National Officers of TEWU of TUC-Ghana into office, and charged them not to betray the trust and confidence reposed in them by the members.
He equally entreated the membership to support the new leaders to enable them achieve the desired goals for the union for the next quadrennial and beyond.
The new National Chairperson, Madam Salamatu Mahamah Braimah, said as new leaders of TEWU of TUCG, they are poised to work for rapid transformation of the union aimed at securing enhanced working conditions for members.
She promised that the leadership will ensure inclusivity, work hard to improve the union’s visibility through innovative programmes and projects, adding, championing the legitimate demands of the TEWU members will be non-negotiable.
The newly elected General Secretary, Mr. Azortibah, said the leadership believes in constructive engagement with all social partners, but warned that they should not come to the negotiation table, adopting the business as usual approach with the new TEWU national officers.
He indicated that the new leadership of TEWU of TUC-Ghana, will not hesitate to call members to action to push for what is due them, if there is any deliberate delay tactics during negotiations on the demands of members.
Both Madam Braimah and Mr. Azortibah, shared some thoughts on the country’s forthcoming general election, in December and urged the various political party leaders and their supporters to be civil in their utterances.
They asked politicians to guard against statements that can inflame passion and thereby undermine the country’s peace and security, stressing that workers need peaceful environment to continue their contributions to the national development efforts for accelerated progress.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri