Abraham Koomson, the Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), is appealing to Ghanaians to refrain from criticizing Organized Labour following the suspension of their planned strike against illegal mining, known locally as “galamsey.”
Mr. Koomson emphasized that the growing wave of public insults directed at Organized Labour is only worsening an already fragile and fractured labour movement.
He urged for patience and understanding from the public.
“I kindly appeal to Ghanaians to stop insulting Organized Labour,” Mr. Koomson said. “The insults are deepening the cracks within the labour front. I’m pleading for calm during this difficult period.”
Organized Labour has been under heavy criticism after calling off a nationwide strike scheduled for October 10, which was intended to protest the government’s handling of the illegal mining crisis.
The strike was suspended after the government introduced new measures, including halting a legislative instrument that allowed mining in forest reserves and deploying military forces to tackle illegal mining operations.
However, the government’s interventions did not satisfy all members of the labour movement.
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) broke ranks with Organized Labour, announcing its own nationwide strike, which began on October 10, in defiance of the suspension.
During an interview on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu program on Saturday, October 12, 2024, with host Teacher Kojo, Mr. Koomson expressed disappointment with the disunity within Organized Labour.
He noted that the decision to suspend the strike had led to divisions, and urged members of the labour front to reflect on their role in addressing long-standing issues.
“The current state of Organized Labour is troubling,” he said. “There are many issues that should have been addressed much earlier, but for some reason, they weren’t. This disunity is making it hard for us to present a united front.”
Abraham Koomson believes that healing the cracks within Organized Labour requires calm and constructive dialogue, not public hostility, and he remains hopeful that with time, the movement can regain its strength and cohesion.
LISTEN TO ABRAHAM KOOMSON IN THE AUDIO BELOW:
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh (#RomeoWrites✍️) / Ahotoronline.com | Ghana🇬🇭
