Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Ghana (Ratification: 1965)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request.

The Committee had noted that under section 22 of the Industrial Relations Act No. 299 of 1965 a person declaring, instigating or inciting others to take part in a strike considered to be illegal is liable to a fine or one year's imprisonment, or both.

The Committee notes the statement in the report that, even though records available indicate that all strikes in Ghana have been illegal because of non-compliance with the dispute settlement procedure laid down in the Industrial Relations Act, 1965, there is no indication that any worker has been prosecuted merely on account of having embarked on strike action or incited others to strike.

It asks the Government to take the necessary steps in order to bring the legal texts into keeping with its practice and to amend its legislation accordingly. It also asks the Government to keep it informed of any application of this provision as well as of any judicial decisions in this respect.