Page 142 - Afrika Must Unite

BUILDING SOCIALISM IN GHANA 127
government’s programme. W ithin the capitalist states, the trade
unions play the role of watchdogs for labour against the em­
ployers. Even so, they are by no means ‘free’. Their leaders are
bought off by the sweets of office and often have their secret
arrangements with employers. M ore than that, they have for the
most part accepted the ideology of their capitalist class and,
through its exposition throughout their extensive forums and the
witch-hunting of those who do not conform, have openly
identified themselves with that ideology.
In such circumstances there cannot be any talk of freedom. In
Ghana, the trade unions are openly associated with the Con­
vention People’s Party as one of its wings. They have no need to
hide this association behind hypocritical sophistries. They are, in
fact, drawing the workers into the implementation of govern­
ment plans by setting up works councils inside the public enter­
prises to give effective expression to their national consciousness.
For it is only through the consent of the people in action that
our target for national reconstruction can be achieved. In co­
operation with the Trades Union Congress, we are devising a
programme of productivity and waste-avoidance incentives
which will include promotions, decorations, cash bonuses and
publicity for individuals who have done exemplary work.
By the industry and example of the Ghana labour movement,
we hope to inspire other Africans still fighting colonialism. O ur
cruel colonial past and the present-day intrigues of neo­
colonialism have hamm ered home the conviction that Africa
can no longer trust in anybody but herself and her resources.
Imperialism, having been forced out through the door by African
nationalism, is attem pting to return by other, back-door means.
African workers, as the likeliest victims of these infiltrations, must
be on their guard. There is a constant endeavour to use the
African trade union movement as a protagonist in the cold war
conflict, and some of the leaders, through flattery and the
acceptance of financial assistance for their unions, have allowed
themselves to be suborned. This is a dangerous situation as it can
drag Africa into active participation in cold war politics and
deprive us of our safeguarding weapon of independent non­
alignment. Unfortunately, there are also some leaders of the
African independent states who cannot see this danger. More-