The Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) has elected Mr Timothy Nyame as its new Deputy General Secretary, over the weekend.
This followed the passing of its Deputy General Secretary, Mr Richard Amiiba Nyaabah, in December 2021.
Mr Nyame emerged winner with 169 votes out of the 211 votes cast to beat his contender, Mr Elijah Nunoo, who polled 41 votes during an ‘Extra-Ordinary Delegates Conference’, held at the PUWU Hospitality and Conference Centre, at Kasoa, in the Central Region.
General Secretary of the Union, Mr Michael Adumatta Nyantakyi, said the election was in accordance with the constitution of the Union.
“Unfortunately, last year, in December, we lost our Deputy General Secretary, Richard Amiiba Nyaabah, and so in line with our constitution, we have to hold an extra-ordinary delegates conference, to elect a new person to continue the tenure,” Mr Nyantakyi said.
In an acceptance speech, after he was sworn into office, Mr Nyame thanked the delegates for entrusting him with the powers to serve the union as Deputy General Secretary, and pledged to discharge his duties diligently by prioritising the interest of the union and its members.
“This journey began years ago. I have served in various positions in PUWU at different regions since 1998. I want to thank God for this victory and the delegates for reposing such confidence in me.The campaign was so smooth devoid of insults or division and in the end, the margin is so clear signifying the trust the people have in me,” he said.
“This is a challenge for me to assist our General Secretary to deliver. The main reason for PUWU is to negotiate for better conditions of service for its members. I want to assure all members that we will deliver on all that was promised,” the new Deputy General Secretary said.
The Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr Yaw Baah, commended PUWU for being a formidable force in the labour sector.
He said that though PUWU was one of the smallest unions under TUC, it was one of the strongest, well organised and with very good leadership.
“It is important that PUWU elects a Deputy General Secretary because their constitution says so. The trade union movement is a democratic movement and so we go by our constitution. Every union has its constitution and the TUC, which is the mother body, has its own constitution, which must be consistent with theirs. So the exercise is important,” Dr Baah said.
FROM NORMAN COOPER,
KASOA
