Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung@ 40 in Ghana Fraternity Message from the General Agricultural Workers Union(GAWU) of Ghana TUC to the Friedrich- Ebert- Stiftung(FES) on the Occasion of FES’ 40th Anniversary in Ghana The General Agricultural Workers Union of Ghana TUC extends the warmest of salutations to the FES as it celebrates the 40th year of operations in Ghana. Forty years of work that is consistently informed by Social Democratic ideals calls for hearty salutations, especially in developing countries that are grappling with poverty and struggling to establish democratic governance. Whilst acknowledging the good work being done with various partner organisations and institutions to strengthen democracy we are particularly enthused by the bonds of friendship and solidarity that FES shares with trade unions in Ghana and the world at large. The strategic partnership with trade unions is one of the clearest confirmations of the commitment to worthy ideals including respect for labour as the ultimate creator of all wealth, and the recognition of organised labour's critical role in eradicating poverty and promoting. GAWU has its own unique basis, among all trade unions in Ghana, for appreciating the work of the Stiftung. As noted during GAWU's 50th Anniversary launch,“… even though the FES has been in Ghana since 1969, the August 1970 report to the Quadrennial Conference of GAWU acknowledged the friendly and cordial relations between the Union and the Stiftung.” Since 2001, GAWU's work on international trade rules and practices, affecting the interests of working people, has benefited considerably from the FES support. GAWU's leading role among trade unions and other CSOs, in the campaign against the obviously negative EPAs will continue to be a testament of meaningful collaboration. GAWU has lots of reason to be proud about its work with the FES when we recall that the collaborations on the EPAs prepared the grounds for the establishment of the Sub-Regional Trade Union Working Group on Trade and Development, involving trade union reps from six countries. Salutations on an occasion like this reinforce the readiness to continue striving for more achievements in the years ahead together. 70