The Deputy Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Godwin Ako Gun, has called on the governing party to strengthen its engagement and communication with organised labour, stressing that workers and labour organisations should be treated as allies in Ghana’s economic recovery process.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Morning Show in Accra-Tema on Thursday, October 1, 2026, Mr Ako Gun said the government and the NDC needed to improve communication on the country’s economic policies, challenges and the measures being taken to address them.
According to him, effective communication between government and organised labour could help prevent misunderstandings and create room for constructive negotiations whenever workers raise concerns or make demands.
“We and labour are our allies. Ideally, we should get closer to them and communicate better with them,” he said.
Mr Ako Gun explained that when government clearly communicates the state of the economy and the challenges confronting the country, organised labour would be in a better position to appreciate the circumstances and consider possible adjustments to its demands.
He said some demands from workers might initially appear difficult for government to meet, but negotiations could allow both sides to reach compromises that take into account the concerns of workers and the financial capacity of the state.
He therefore urged government not to simply reject demands it considers difficult to meet, but to explain what it can realistically afford and engage labour leaders on possible alternatives.
Mr Ako Gun said continuous engagement was particularly important as Ghana works to recover from the economic difficulties it has experienced.
He pointed to relative stability in the foreign exchange market as one of the developments he said could support the recovery process.
According to him, the stability of the cedi has helped prevent some prices from rising sharply, although international developments, including fluctuations in crude oil prices, could still affect the domestic economy.
He further cited international conflicts and tensions involving the United States, Iran, Russia and Ukraine as developments that could create uncertainty in the global economy and eventually have implications for Ghana.
The NDC Deputy Communications Officer consequently urged workers and organised labour to appreciate the sacrifices that may be required during periods of economic recovery, while calling on government to engage them honestly and transparently.
“If the economy is making progress and you explain it to them, they will understand,” he said, adding that negotiations could allow both sides to meet halfway.
He illustrated his point with a situation where a worker demands a particular amount, but through negotiations, government and labour could agree on a lower figure that the state can realistically afford.
NDC must understand labour expectations
Mr Ako Gun also disagreed with the suggestion that labour organisations sometimes oppose the NDC simply because they want to undermine the government.
He said organised labour could make stronger demands under an NDC administration because of the party’s historical relationship with the labour movement and its traditional identification with workers’ interests.
According to him, the NDC must therefore understand the expectations of organised labour whenever it is in government.
He noted that the party’s decision to celebrate workers as part of its political calendar reflects its historical connection with the labour movement.
Mr Ako Gun stressed that labour demands should not automatically be viewed as hostility towards government. Rather, he urged the NDC to regard such demands as an opportunity to engage, negotiate and explain the realities confronting the economy.
He maintained that stronger communication and continuous dialogue between government and organised labour would help build trust and enable both sides to work together towards sustaining Ghana’s economic recovery.
Story by Stephen Kwaku MintahOwusu
