The Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has called on the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to strengthen its relationship with organised labour, saying closer engagement is essential for workers to better understand and support the government’s policies.
Speaking on Ahotor FM on Saturday, July 18, Mr. Koomson argued that Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, demonstrated the importance of organised labour in governance by working closely with the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
According to him, the TUC played a key role in Ghana’s struggle for independence and was later 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 recognised the role of Ghanaian workers under the umbrella of the TUC and involved them in governance,” he said.
Mr. Koomson noted that Ghana’s labour movement has expanded significantly over the years, with more than 100 labour unions now operating across the country.
He therefore urged the government to engage all organised labour groups rather than focusing solely on the TUC.
“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 organised labour and the various unions.
It is not a crime for a political party in government to engage labour,” he stated.
He also appealed to officials working with President John Dramani Mahama to recognise the importance of maintaining close ties with labour organisations, noting that the President’s demanding schedule may limit his ability to personally oversee such engagements.
“The President needs to work closely with the labour unions, and the people around him should recognise the need for the NDC to build a good relationship with labour,” he said.
Mr. Koomson further claimed that the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has built considerable influence within the TUC, alleging that the party has used that influence to shape public opinion against the current administration.
He cited comments made during last year’s May Day celebrations, where he said the TUC Secretary General criticised the NDC government over illegal mining despite the administration having been in office for only a few months, while remaining largely silent on similar issues during the previous NPP administration.
Referencing Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s philosophy that “organisation decides,” Mr. Koomson stressed that effective governance depends not only on good policies but also on strong organisation and collaboration with workers.
He warned that the NDC risks missing an opportunity to effectively communicate its policies if it fails to build stronger relationships with organised labour.
According to him, closer engagement with labour unions would help workers better understand the government’s programmes and contribute more effectively to national development.
