The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has questioned the inclusion of a tribute attributed to former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in a commemorative publication for the late Isaac Bampoe Addo, raising concerns about the message it could convey to organised labour and the general public.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Ahotor 92.3 FM’s Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show, hosted by Nana Dogbe, Mr Koomson said he became concerned after obtaining a copy of the publication and reading the contents of Mr Ofori-Atta’s tribute.
He questioned the prominence given to the former Finance Minister, considering the controversies surrounding his tenure and the economic difficulties Ghana experienced during that period.
According to Mr Koomson, some portions of the tribute appeared to defend Mr Ofori-Atta’s handling of the COVID-19 levy and the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
He said the tribute appeared to suggest that the late Isaac Bampoe Addo, who held leadership responsibilities within organised labour, understood certain aspects of the former Finance Minister’s decisions on the economic measures.
Mr Koomson expressed concern that the publication could create the impression that organised labour had endorsed or supported policies that affected workers and other sections of the Ghanaian population.
He also questioned the circumstances under which the tribute was included in the funeral publication, particularly following reports that a copy had been obtained through State Protocol.
Although he acknowledged that the funeral arrangements might have been handled by the deceased’s family, he said the reported involvement of official protocol channels raised questions about the level of scrutiny given to the publication.
The GFL Secretary-General therefore called on the government to obtain a copy of the commemorative publication and examine the tribute attributed to Mr Ofori-Atta to establish how it was included.
He further warned that individuals within the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) could take actions that undermine the government’s public image and efforts to address concerns about the country’s economic management.
Mr Koomson stressed that his support for the NDC was rooted in the party’s ideology and the government’s performance rather than unconditional loyalty to individuals.
He maintained that the issue should not be swept under the carpet, insisting that the government must establish the circumstances surrounding the inclusion of the tribute and whether the necessary checks were conducted.
He said the matter deserved serious attention, particularly given the government’s position on the former Finance Minister and the concerns surrounding his stewardship of the economy.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah
