The General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU-Ghana), Morgan Ayawine, has called on the government to revive distressed state-owned enterprises (SOEs) as part of efforts to tackle unemployment and drive industrial growth.

Speaking at the opening session of the ICU’s 12th Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Mr Ayawine described the three-day gathering as a “pivotal moment to reflect, refocus, and renew” the Union’s commitment to workers and national development.

Reviewing his stewardship since assuming office in August 2021, Ayawine noted that the ICU had rebuilt its membership base following the COVID-19 pandemic and successfully unionised senior staff of institutions, including the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Cocoa Marketing Company, Quality Control Company, and the Bank Hospital.

He also highlighted the union’s legal victories, such as securing bargaining rights at the Akosombo Industrial Company and winning compensation for workers wrongfully dismissed at SONO Ghana Ltd.

On this year’s theme, “Enhancing Productivity at the Workplace: The Role of Social Partners,” Ayawine stressed that productivity was rooted not merely in capital investment but in empowering workers through fair treatment, skills development, and transparent promotion systems.

“True productivity arises when workers are empowered mentally, physically, and emotionally,” he stated.

The General Secretary urged the government to prioritise the revival of struggling SOEs, including Neoplan Ghana, Cocoa Processing Company, ALUWORKS, PBC PLC, and Volta Star Textiles, noting that their revitalisation could provide sustainable jobs for Ghana’s youth.

He also praised ICU’s strengthened international affiliations with UNI Global Union, IndustriALL, and IUF, which he said had enhanced the union’s global visibility and enriched its strategies.

As his first term draws to a close, Ayawine expressed optimism about the union’s future, stating that the upcoming conference deliberations would unveil a “master plan” to reposition ICU-Ghana for greater influence.

He thanked social partners, government, employers, and international allies for their support, while commending ICU members and staff for their resilience.

“With the winds of positive economic change blowing across the country, we are poised for greater accomplishments,” he affirmed.

He also used the occasion to pay tribute to two late former General Secretaries, Brothers B.T. Bartimaeus and Napoleon D.K. Kpoh, describing them as “fallen giants” whose legacies continue to shape the union.

Bartimaeus was the union’s founding General Secretary in 1960, while Kpoh, who served from 1991 to 2007, spearheaded the establishment of the landmark ICU House in Kokomlemle, Accra.