Ghana, Nigeria to set up West Africa agric union

Plans are far advanced for the establishment of the West African Agricultural Union as Ghana and Nigeria held talks last week on the matter.

The Agriculture and Allied Employees Union of Nigeria (AAEUN) and the General Agricultural Workers Union of Ghana last Friday September 14, 2012 announced a joint commitment to establish the regional union.

The Nigerian BusinessDay newspaper reports that representatives of the two unions met in Lagos and explained that the establishment of the regional union was to foster food security and to protect the workforce in the agricultural sector in the sub-region.

They believe that the regional union will improve the welfare of agric workers and secure members from all forms of hazards in the field.

“It is an urgent call for the sector within the West Africa sub-region to have a common body that will look into the salary structure and field benefits,” the publication quoted AAEUN General Secretary Blessing Oladele as saying.

Mr Walter Atiako, who represented GAWU, said the union is working towards strengthening the sector between the two countries.

By Ekow Quandzie