The newly elected National Chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU), Paapa Amankwah Sarpong, has pledged to champion fairness, unity and improved welfare for workers, while committing to constructive engagement with management to protect the dignity and rights of members.
Delivering his acceptance speech after his election, Mr Sarpong described his new role as both an honour and a responsibility, noting that his leadership would be guided by the core principles of the union.
“Our mission remains clear: to obtain and maintain fair, just, and appropriate wages, salaries, hours of work, and other conditions of employment for all our members,” he said.
He stressed that solidarity among workers would remain central to his administration, urging members to see the union as a family rather than a divided political space.
“Divided, we are vulnerable — but united, we are unstoppable,” he told the gathering.
Mr Sarpong used the occasion to reflect on broader national challenges, particularly the decline of Ghana’s cocoa industry, which he partly blamed on the destructive impact of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
He said the pollution of rivers, destruction of fertile lands and loss of cocoa farms were affecting productivity and revenue, making it harder for management to meet workers’ expectations.
“This harsh reality is affecting productivity, revenue, and ultimately, the capacity of management to meet all our expectations in full,” he noted.
However, he emphasised that patience from workers should not be mistaken for silence.
“We will still stand firm and ensure that fairness at the workplace is achieved,” he added.
A major priority of his leadership, Mr Sarpong said, would be addressing what he described as long-standing injustices in staff promotion and remuneration, particularly for workers who have acquired additional academic qualifications.
“It is unacceptable for dedicated workers who have upgraded themselves through hard work and sacrifice to be overlooked, while external recruits are brought in to occupy ‘juicier ranks,’” he stated.
He promised to initiate roundtable discussions with management to ensure that promotion, recognition and remuneration are based on transparent and established criteria.
Focus on education, empowerment and safety
The new ICWU chairman also announced plans to strengthen educational and training opportunities for members, especially those who have remained stagnant due to la ack of academic qualifications.
“We will do all in our might to assist them in fulfilling their growth obligations,” he said.
On workplace safety, Mr Sarpong referenced the Ghana Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), and the mandate of the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA), insisting that safety standards must be strictly enforced.
“Safety is not optional, and it is not negotiable,” he stressed.
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