We, the representatives of forty-seven Trade Union Organizations from Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Australia and representatives of the World Federation of Trade Unions, meeting at a plenary session of the International Trade Union Committee for Solidarity with the Workers and People of South Africa in Accra, Ghana, from 9 to 11 March 1964, would like to place before you the point of view of our organizations concerning the policy of Apartheid of the Government of the Republic of South Africa.

We have noticed that the Government of the Republic of South Africa, far from complying with the resolution of the General Assembly of 6 November 1962 and those of the Security Council of April and August last year, has persistently followed her policy of apartheid and racial discrimination and intensified her repression against the non-white population of that country. Not only this, but it has officially announced that it has no intention whatsoever of changing that hated policy.

It is our opinion that the Government of the Republic of South Africa could not have taken this stand if it were not counting on moral and material support from some Member States of the United Nations. Paragraph 477 of the Report of the Special Committee on the Policies of Apartheid of the Government of the Republic of South Africa clearly refers to this fact.

The question thus arises whether it is not necessary for the United Nations to examine the attitude of those Member States and take appropriate action against them. We feel that actions taken by the United Nations to isolate this Government and thus help to bring a quick end to the suffering of the people of South Africa can be effective only if the United Nations insists that her Member States respect the resolutions on apartheid.

We strongly support the recommendations contained in the Report of the Special Committee which has been accepted by the eighteenth session of the United Nations General Assembly and ask the United Nations to see that they are completely implemented.

We furthermore demand that the Republic of South Africa be expelled from the UNO and its specialized agencies so long as it pursues its official policy of apartheid.

For our part we will spare no effort to assist our brothers and sisters in South Africa in their hard but noble struggle to rid the world of one of its darkest spots.

Please accept the expression of our respect.

Accra, 9 to 11 March 1964

The memorandum was transmitted by John K. Tettegah, Secretary-General of the Ghana Trade Union Congress and Chairman of the Conference, and published in document A/AC.115/L.63