CPP Marks May Day, Offers Ghanaian Workers Seat on Central Committee to Revive Economic Independence Drive

The Convention People’s Party has used this year’s International Workers’ Day to salute Ghanaian workers and invite them back to its Central Committee, as part of what it calls a renewed push to complete Ghana’s “unfinished” economic independence.

In a May Day statement signed by National Communications Director Osei Kofi Acquah, the CPP reminded workers of their historic partnership with the party during the independence struggle.

“We started the fight for Independence with you the workers of Ghana,” the statement said. “Indeed the Political Independence of Ghana could not have been possible without the contributions from the railway workers, the ex-service men, the market women, the teachers and other workers’ unions.”

The party credited workers for amplifying its “Self Government Now” call through demonstrations and public gatherings in the 1940s and 1950s.

But the CPP argued that Ghana’s independence remains incomplete because the drive toward economic self-reliance was “truncated by the Coup of 1966.”

“69 years after we the CPP and the workers of Ghana attained political Independence for Ghana in 1957… most of the factories built with state funds remain shut,” Acquah said.

The statement criticized the sale of State Owned Enterprises and alleged that “state houses and other state properties including our natural resources continue to be shared among government cronies, family and friends.”

To address this, the CPP said it is “rekindling our union” with workers to complete the journey toward economic independence.

“We are encouraging you the workers of Ghana to grow your membership, be politically active though non-partisan and remain patriotic,” the statement read.

As part of that appeal, the party announced it is “offering you a seat at our CPP Central Committee as we did during our struggle for Political Independence in the 1940s and the 1950s.”

The CPP ended its message with an “Ayekoo” to workers, saying their “sacrifices, sweat and commitment” drive Ghana’s economy.

“Forward Ever!” the statement concluded.

May Day, observed annually on May 1, celebrates workers and the labor movement worldwide. Several political parties and unions in Ghana have issued statements marking the occasion.