DFID white paper on development: comments from the Ghana TUC

UK white paper on international development

Making governance work for the poor

13 July 2006

The Secretary General of Ghana Trades Union Congress Brother Kwasi Adu-Amankwah would like to use this opportunity to welcome the British Government's commitment to international cooperation and development.

We would like to see a similar commitment to Trade Justice. The injustice in the world trading system is contributing to deepening of poverty in developing countries.

As a country, Ghana has spent greater part of its life after independence under military dictatorship and has emerged from military since 1992. It is also important to state that Ghana TUC was the first organized to call on the military rulers to return the country to constitutional rule. Therefore, the trade unions have played very important role in the restoration of democracy in Ghana. The trade unions continue to play active role in sustaining democracy in the country.

We also believe that increasing aid and cancellation of debt, even though it is important, must be followed with commitment to good governance. Here we must state that we glad welcomed the British Government's acceptance of trade unions and other civil society organizations as institutions that must be supported to ensure that democratic culture is strengthened and deepened in developing countries. It is our hope that this support will be real and forth coming.

Finally, we also welcome the support for public services. We believe that these institutions are crucial in ensuring that development assistance gets to those who really need them most. We would like to see our people enjoying free education, health and access to clean drinking water. We have to end as a matter of urgency the doctrine on privatisation of public services as preached by neo-liberalism.

Notes

DFID White Paper: www.dfid.gov.uk/wp2006/default.asp