Tema, Ghana – The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Mr. Abraham Koomson, has strongly criticised the Trades Union Congress (TUC) over its conduct during the 2025 May Day celebration, stating that the GFL would have organised its own event had it anticipated the nature of the TUC’s speeches.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu show with host Nana Dogbe, Mr. Koomson described the tone and content of the TUC’s address during the national parade as divisive and unrepresentative of the broader labour front.
“May Day is not just a fanfare to drink, eat, and give out awards,” he said. “It’s a platform to highlight the real struggles of Ghanaian workers and for education. Unfortunately, the TUC’s speeches didn’t reflect that reality, especially from the perspective of all labour bodies.”
Mr. Koomson noted that the TUC’s remarks failed to capture the collective concerns of organised labour, particularly the GFL, and accused the leadership of sidelining their voice during the celebrations.
He also took issue with comments made by TUC officials on politically sensitive matters, including the ongoing controversy involving the Chief Justice.
According to him, such pronouncements were made without prior consultation with other labour unions, risking the perception of political bias and weakening the credibility of the labour movement.
While reaffirming the GFL’s commitment to national causes such as the fight against illegal mining (galamsey), Mr. Koomson emphasized that statements on such issues must be guided by consensus among all labour stakeholders.
Earlier in the week, the GFL formally protested what it described as the TUC’s “unilateral and disrespectful conduct” during the May Day parade in Accra.
In a strongly-worded letter to TUC Secretary-General Joshua Ansah, Mr. Koomson expressed deep disappointment over the exclusion of the GFL from both the programme and key speeches at the national event.
The GFL, a recognised partner within Ghana’s organised labour framework, insists that its contributions and presence should not be overlooked in matters affecting the nation’s workforce.
LISTEN TO ABRAHAM KOOMSON IN THE AUDIO BELOW 
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Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites
) / Ahotoronline.com / Ghana
