TEMA, Ghana, 18th July: Abraham Koomson, Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), has urged the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to strengthen its relationship with organized labour, arguing that such engagement is crucial for workers to better understand and support the government’s policies and ideology.
According to Mr. Koomson, Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, recognized the strategic importance of labour in nation-building.
He noted that the Trades Union Congress (TUC) played a pivotal role in Ghana’s struggle for independence and was subsequently integrated into the governance structure of the Convention People’s Party (CPP).
“Kwame Nkrumah succeeded with labour. The TUC played a critical role in the struggle for independence, after which he made the TUC an integral part of the ruling CPP. He recognized the role of Ghanaian workers under the umbrella of the TUC and involved them in governance,” he said.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme on Saturday, July 18, Mr. Koomson stressed that the NDC should intentionally build strong ties with organized labour, insisting that there was nothing inappropriate about such engagement.
He pointed out that the labour movement has evolved beyond the TUC, with more than 100 labour unions currently operating across the country.
“There are over 100 labour unions in Ghana today, so it’s not only the TUC that matters. Every worker matters. What I expect the NDC government to do is to relate with organized labour and the various unions. It is not a crime for a political party in government to engage labour,” he stated.
Mr. Koomson also called on officials surrounding President John Dramani Mahama to appreciate the importance of maintaining close relations with labour organizations, noting that the President’s demanding schedule may not allow him to personally oversee such engagements.
“The President needs to work closely with the labour unions, and the people around him should recognize the need for the NDC to build a good relationship with labour. That is the problem I currently have with the NDC,” he remarked.
The GFL Secretary General further alleged that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strategically gained significant influence within the TUC and is using that influence to shape public opinion against the current government.
“The NPP has strategically taken charge of the TUC and has a lot of influence there. During last year’s May Day celebration, the TUC Secretary General criticized the NDC over galamsey even though the government had been in office for only about three months. Yet, during the NPP’s eight years in office, they remained largely silent on many issues,” he claimed.
Drawing inspiration from Dr. Nkrumah’s philosophy that “organization decides,” Mr. Koomson argued that no government can succeed solely on good ideas without effectively organizing and working with workers.
“A government may have all the brains and brilliant ideas, but without organization it will struggle. Labour is central to national development, and government must be interested in what happens within the labour unions,” he said.
Mr. Koomson expressed concern that the NDC’s leadership has not fully appreciated the strategic importance of organized labour, warning that the party risks losing the opportunity to effectively communicate its policies to workers.
“The NDC is not active enough because the top hierarchy does not understand the importance of aligning with labour unions. It is important to build friendships within the labour movement so workers can better understand the government’s ideologies and policies,” he concluded.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭