TEMA, Ghana, 2nd May: The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has announced plans by the Federation to challenge the Minerals Commission’s Local Content and Local Participation Regulations, LI 2431 of 2020 and LI 2462 of 2022 describing its implementation as problematic and potentially harmful to workers.
The Legislative Instruments were introduced by the Akufo-Addo led administration to promote greater participation of Ghanaians in the mineral resource sector through employment, skills development, and the use of local goods and services.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme on Saturday, May 2, Mr. Koomson alleged that the previous government introduced LI 2431 and LI 2462 to serve its own interests rather than the broader national good.
He claimed the LI 2431 passed in 2020 were to disable the workers trade unions and worsen working conditions and LI 2462 in 2022 which allowed mining in forest reserves were just to degrade the environment at the detriment of the State.
He believes the policies were used as a pretext to exploit forest resources for private gains.
Mr. Koomson also called for the immediate suspension of a reported directive seeking to transition parts of the mining sector to contract mining.
He warned that such a move, if not properly structured, could undermine job security and erode workers’ rights.
He expressed strong solidarity with the Extractive Industry Workers’ Union Ghana (EIWUG) and workers across the mining and extractive sectors who may be affected by the directive.
According to him, the GFL’s intended legal challenge against LI 2431 and LI 2462 highlights the need for the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to take a more active and sensitive stance on the issue, particularly given its representation of workers within the mining sector.
While reaffirming GFL’s support for local content policies and increased Ghanaian participation in the mining industry, Mr. Koomson stressed that such initiatives must not come at the expense of decent work.
“Local content must not become a cover for labour casualisation,” he cautioned, emphasizing that any reforms must protect existing jobs, ensure fair wages, and uphold occupational safety standards.
Mr. Koomson therefore urged government and relevant authorities to suspend the implementation of the directive until a comprehensive labour impact assessment is conducted and a negotiated transition framework is agreed upon with organised labour.
LISTEN TO ABRAHAM KOOMSON IN THE AUDIO BELOW:
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/Ahotoronline.com | Ghana 🇬🇭
