Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour, Abraham Koomson
The Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has urged the government to provide support for the training and capacity-building of labour union leaders across the country.
According to him, many union leaders lack adequate knowledge in key areas such as negotiations and labour laws, a situation that hampers effective representation of workers’ interests.
Koomson cited the recent strike action by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) as a clear example of the need for training.
“I think the government must look at supporting trade unions to train their leaders,” he said.
“The recent strike by the GRNMA, which reportedly led to some deaths, shows that many union leaders are not familiar with even basic provisions of the Labour Act.”
He pointed specifically to Section 97, subsections 1 and 2 of the Labour Act, which highlight the importance of good faith negotiations and making reasonable demands within the financial capacity of the employer.
“You cannot demand what you know your employer cannot provide.
Some leaders don’t even know this,” he added.
Koomson also criticised what he described as the silence of some union leaders during the tenure of former President Akufo-Addo, particularly in the face of questionable public spending.
He noted that such silence has made it difficult to justify current demands for improved conditions of service.
“For instance, when the former Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, purchased Sputnik V vaccines at inflated prices, GRNMA should have raised concerns.
If they had, the country could have saved resources that might now be used to improve the health sector,” he stated.
He stressed the responsibility of union leaders to be vigilant about how their sectors are managed, arguing that financial mismanagement ultimately affects workers’ ability to negotiate for better conditions.
“As a unionist, you must be concerned about the financial health of your institution.
If someone mismanages funds and you stay quiet, it will be difficult to make demands later when there’s no money,” he said.
Koomson further lamented the silence of labour unions on controversial government expenditures, including the $58 million spent on the National Cathedral project and the use of private jets by the former president.
“We had the opportunity to raise concerns, but we kept quiet. And now, when we make demands, we are told there’s no money,” he emphasised.
He concluded with a strong appeal to the government to prioritise support for trade unions by facilitating workshops, seminars, and training in areas such as negotiation, policy advocacy, and financial oversight.
“Going forward, I’m appealing to the government to support labour unions with training opportunities. It’s the only way we can build effective and informed leadership within the labour front,” Mr. Koomson said.
He made these remarks while speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu show on Saturday.
