By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi
Accra, Sept. 24, GNA – The Health Services Workers’ Union (HSWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC-Ghana), has called on members to embrace savings and investment as part of efforts to secure their financial future beyond active employment.
Mr Franklin Owusu Ansah, General Secretary, made the call at the climax of activities marking the 82nd anniversary of the Union, which also provided an opportunity to reflect on its achievements, challenges and future.
Speaking at a symposium on Thursday 10 at the TUC Hall, as part of week-long activities, he described the 82 years of its existence as a testimony of sacrifice, resilience, courage, solidarity and commitment to the welfare and dignity of Ghanaian health workers.
He said HSWU had over the years remained a strong voice for workers whose contributions were indispensable to the delivery of quality healthcare, although their work was sometimes unnoticed.
Mr Owusu Ansah paid tribute to past leaders whose sacrifices and toil had contributed to building the organisation and urged members to protect the gains made for future generations.
He challenged members to consider what they were doing to make the future better for themselves and the next generation of HSWU members.
“Trade unionism has move beyond salaries, conditions of service and negotiations to include the economic wellbeing and long-term financial security of members,” he said
Mr General Secretary said the development of the HSWU Tier 3 Fund is a significant milestone in its welfare journey, saying that it represented a shift from reactive welfare to planned financial security and sustainable wealth creation.
He urged members to see the fund not as an additional deduction from their salaries but as an investment in themselves, their families and their future.
The HSWU leadership said the success of the fund would depend on the collective commitment of members, reminding members that retirement planning should begin from the first day of employment to thinking beyond their immediate needs and building financial security.
Mr Emmanuel Baffour, Biomedical Engineer and Chairperson for the event said the Union members must move beyond anniversary celebrations and translate the union’s achievements into concrete action.
He urged members to draw lessons from the union’s journey and channel them into actions that would strengthen the organisation, adding that the lessons would help chart a way forward for the union to continue growing from strength to strength.
The event was graced by members from both local and international unionised institutions, pension regulators, fund managers and insurance companies amongst others.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Patrick Ofoe Nudzi