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By Goitsemang Mathekga, ITUC founding Congress, Accra, 27th November, 2007

The founding of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Afro) was officially endorsed yesterday, 27th November 2007. ITUC-Afro is an organisation, which has united all the trade unions in Africa irrespective of their diverse ideological and geo-political backgrounds.

"This initiative also constitutes a further step in creating a stronger movement with one common belief to have a democratic and united trade union movement in Africa," said the General Secretary of ITUC Guy Ryder.

Observers and representatives from the African Union and the government of Ghana were present to witness this historic occasion and gave messages of solidarity and support, stating that the AU and Ghanaian government support all the initiatives of African trade unions aimed at bettering the lives of the workers and sees ITUC-Afro as such.

Furthermore the AU sees ITUC-Afro as a tool that can facilitate a social dialogue, which aspires to create unity among all trade unions regionally, continentally and internationally, and harness their positive contribution to the development of the people of Africa.

In a speech that was prepared by the President of Ghana, John A. Kufor, his Chief Advisor who presented on his behalf, said that "this initiative is an important building block for economic development" and that it is "a very critical organisation that should play a role in the continental economic emancipation by ensuring worker participation in all spheres of economic development initiatives."

In the plenary debate focusing on issues related to Governance of the Global Economy, Trade and Economic Integration, it was emphasised that Africa is rich in minerals and natural resources and there is no prosperity without taking advantage of that opportunity, through value-adding and beneficiation.

The fact that most governments are not prepared to negotiate and involve trade unions on macro-economic policies was also a major concern. Delegates emphasised that there is a need for African socio-political policies to correspond to the economic imperatives of national and people-centred development, therefore challenged ITUC-Afro to act so that this is realised.

The issue of marginalisation of workers in informal economies was also raised in relation to women's dominance in the sector, which makes them the most vulnerable in this regard. It was emphasised that women in leadership positions should be represented in the same proportion as women are represented on the ground. The need to co-ordinate and organise the sector was also emphasised.