The Ghana Employers Association (GEA) and the International Professional Managers Association (GEA-IPMA) has graduated 32 students after completing Diploma in Industrial Relations programme.
Held under the theme: “Creating a resilient industrial relations environment for improved productivity,” the event, which was the third of its kind, saw the graduation of the fifth and sixth batches of the programme.
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, in a speech read on his behalf by the ministry’s Chief Director, Kizito Ballans, in Accra last Friday, commended the GEA-IPMA for rolling out a diploma programme for practitioners of industrial relations.
He said the collaboration demonstrated the importance the GEA has attached to the promotion of peaceful industrial relations.
Mr Awuah indicated that it was high time innovative ways of minimising industrial disputes were identified to ensure the effective production of goods and services at the workplace.
“A peaceful industrial climate promotes sustainability, growth, productivity and employment creation,” he added.
Mr Awuah stated that there was also the pressing need for employers, management and employees to familiarise themselves with relevant policies and legislations of the sector to provide guidance in the reduction of industrial disputes at the workplace.
“This would reduce the frequency of industrial disputes because they are occasionally caused by lack of knowledge of the law,” he added.
The minister saidthe onus lied on graduands to put to use knowledge and skills acquired.
Mr Eugene Narh Korletey, Chief Labour Officer at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, said the theme for the event was timely and relevant as it depicted what was needed in the country’s current labour space.
He said the graduating classes were part of the key actors with the role of creating conducive work environment to enhance growth.
Mr Korletey said it was for which reason they had to efficiently use the knowledge acquired to enhance productivity and maintain harmonious relationships in their organisations and the country at large.
Mr Alex Frimpong, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GEA, encouraged the graduands to put their skills to use and help reduce industrial disputes.
He assured the graduands of the GEA-IPMA’s continual support to help them in the course of their works.
Mr Bethel Yeboah and Mr Kingsley Laar, the overall best students for the fifth and sixth respectively, expressed their gratitude to their organisations and colleagues for the opportunity to add value to themselves.
They underscored that they had received great knowledge and assured that they were prepared to tackle challenges that may come their way.
BY ABIGAIL ARTHUR
