Obuasi (ASH), Aug 21, – An appeal has gone to the Trades Union Congress to establish an insurance scheme that will take care of the worker who becomes disabled through an accident at the work place. Mr Ben Dellah, a grade data programme officer of the Ashanti Goldfields Company who made the appeal at a press briefing at Obuasi yesterday, said various companies and industries could be made to contribute to it. He appealed to the government to ensure that the amended workers compensation act, PNDCL 197 becomes operative in work places. He suggested a further amendment to the act to compel some companies to be more vigilant with the health and safety of their workers. He said some companies are only interested in their production targets without considering the health and safety of their workers. Mr Della urged unions to ensure that correct compensation is paid to injured workers.
Kromekrom (W/R), Aug. 21, – Cocoa farmers in and around Kromekrom, near Badu Nyamebekyere in the Aowin-Suaman-Dadieso district, have appealed to the government to help them to build a hospital at Dadieso. Nana Francis Krome, society chief farmer for Kromekrom, made the appeal during a farmers’ forum at Kromekrom yesterday. Nana Krome said the absence of any health facility in the area makes farmers to travel to Enchi, a distance of 40 kilometres, before seeking medical care. The chief farmer appealed to the government to ensure that farmers are paid promptly for their produce pointing out that the situation whereby farmers are told “go and come” several times before payment is effected for their sold cocoa is not healthy. He also appealed to the government to reduce the cost of insecticides like DDT, the price of which has shot up from three thousand cedis to 20,000 cedis, to enable them spray their farms.
