Interim Report - Report No 72, 1964

Case No 303 (Ghana) - Complaint date: 22-JUN-62 - Closed

1. 139. The complaint of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, dated 22 June 1962, together with the observations thereon furnished by the Government of Ghana on 5 October 1962, was examined by the Committee in paragraphs 244 to 323 of its 67th Report, which was approved by the Governing Body on 8 March 1963, in the course of its 154th Session.

A. A. The complainants' allegations

1. 140. In paragraphs 253 to 311 of its 67th Report the Committee considered a number of allegations relating to the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act, 1958, as amended. On the recommendation of the Committee, the Governing Body, as indicated in paragraph 323 (a), (b) and (c) of that report, drew certain principles to the attention of the Government of Ghana, suggested that it might care to re-examine the provisions of the Act in the light of those principles and requested the Government to be good enough to keep the Governing Body informed as to further developments. With regard to the application of certain of the provisions of the Act, the Committee itself requested the Government to furnish further information, as indicated in paragraphs 269 and 285 of its 67th Report.
2. 141. With regard to the allegations relating to strikes which took place in September 1961 and to the arrests of trade unionists the Governing Body, adopting paragraph 323 (d) of the Committee's 67th Report, drew the attention of the Government to the importance which the Governing Body has always attached to the right of all detained persons to receive a fair trial at the earliest possible moment, and requested the Government to indicate whether any of the trade unionists alleged by the complainants to have been arrested or detained were still in prison or in detention and, if so, to furnish information as to the legal or judicial proceedings which had been taken or were intended to be taken and as to the outcome of such proceedings.
3. 142. With regard to the allegations relating to the dissolution of certain trade unions following the strikes of September 1961 the Committee, as indicated in paragraph 322 of its 67th Report, requested the Government to indicate whether the dissolution was ordered directly by the Government or through proceedings instituted by the competent authorities in the courts, and by virtue of which legal provisions such dissolution was ordered.
4. 143. In a letter dated 26 July 1963 the Government states that consideration was being given to a revision of the Industrial Relations Act even before the complaint was submitted, that proposed amendments are due to be placed before the National Advisory Committee on Labour soon for examination and approval, and that the I.L.O will be informed when action which is in progress has been completed.

The Committee's recommendations

1. 144. In these circumstances the Committee recommends the Governing Body:
   • (a) to take note of the statement by the Government of Ghana in its communication dated 26 July 1963 that proposed amendments to the Industrial Relations Act are due to be placed before the National Advisory Committee on Labour soon for examination and approval, and to request the Government to be good enough to keep the Governing Body informed as to further developments in this connection;
   • (b) to request the Government to be good enough to furnish the further information previously requested of it, as indicated in paragraphs 141 and 142 above, with regard to certain matters arising out of the alleged arrests of trade unionists and the dissolution of certain trade unions after the strikes of September 1961.