The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) has appealed to the government to reactivate the Pwalugu Tomato Factory in the Upper East Region to create employment opportunities for the teeming youth in the region.
The union believes such a move will help save the nation the huge foreign exchange spent on importing tomatoes.
General Secretary of the Union, Mr. Morgan Ayawine, made this appeal while addressing the Union’s Upper East Regional Conference in Bolgatanga on March 28, 2025.
Mr. Ayawine noted that the growing phenomenon of unemployment in the country, leading to unbridled youth migration, calls for the establishment of viable and sustainable industries to create jobs. He stressed that such initiatives would encourage young people to remain in rural areas and contribute to the socio-economic development of their communities and the country as a whole.
“So many industries and businesses have been left to deteriorate. This is a serious concern for the Union, as it is exacerbating the already precarious unemployment situation in the country. A typical example is the Pwalugu Tomato Factory in the Upper East Region, which has been abandoned for years while the indigenes of the region remain unemployed,” he stated.
He passionately called for the reactivation of the Pwalugu Tomato Factory to enhance employment opportunities in the region.
A Dam at Pwalugu
The ICU-Ghana General Secretary lauded the government’s initiative to construct a dam at Pwalugu in addition to existing dams in the Upper East Region, stating that it would significantly boost agricultural ventures and other economic activities in the area.
He emphasized that the economic benefits of constructing the dam at Pwalugu would be enormous.
Mr. Ayawine also urged all stakeholders in the labour sector to swiftly address labour-related concerns to prevent industrial actions at workplaces.
“In these challenging times, every effort must be made by the government, employers, and labour unions to address labour-related concerns with speed and urgency to forestall unnecessary industrial actions. Productivity suffers when there is no peace and harmony within the arena of labour relations,” he said.
The regional conference of the ICU, which serves as a prelude to the 12th Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference, provided members with the opportunity to take stock of regional activities, conduct elections for the Youth, Women, and Regional Council, and adopt resolutions for the national Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference in August this year.
Source: GBC Online