By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Dr. Abraham Koomson, has alleged that speeches delivered by the Secretary-General and the National Chairman of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) during the 2025 May Day commemoration held in Accra yesterday, May 1, 2025, were politically motivated
Speaking in an interview on Accra-based TV3, Dr. Koomson said, “The speeches delivered by the Secretary-General and the National Chairman of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) failed to reflect the collective concerns of all critical stakeholders within the organised labour front, particularly the Ghana Federation of Labour.”
The Secretary-General of GFL stated emphatically that his outfit takes particular exception to public statements made by some TUC executives during the parade about a controversy involving the Chief Justice, saying labour leaders had deliberated on no such matter.
“To issue such a public pronouncement without thorough legal consultation was premature, presumptuous, and inconsistent with the principles of due process,” Dr. Koomson reiterated.
According to him, the TUC’s statement on illegal mining lacks a collective agreement and is politically motivated, referencing the stance it took concerning a planned demonstration against the menace.
Before the Secretary-General of GFL’s telephone interview, the GFL as a body, in a letter issued on May 1, 2025, has registered its strong protest against the leadership of the TUC.
The group describes the conduct of the Trades Union Congress towards members and executives of GFL during this year’s May Day Parade in Accra as unilateral and disrespectful.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary-General of the TUC, the GFL said it was “deeply offended and disappointed” by its exclusion from the official programme and the lack of consultation on critical issues raised during the event, including commentary on the Chief Justice and illegal mining.
“Any recommitment by organised labour to that cause must be thoroughly discussed and agreed upon through collective leadership. The uncoordinated remarks… risk being interpreted as politically inciting,” portion of the statement read.
The GFL further protested its total exclusion from the event’s speaking programme, describing the ceremony as dominated by “disjointed” TUC presentations that failed to demonstrate the unity of the broader labour front.
To address the growing cracks within organised labour, the GFL is demanding an urgent meeting of interim labour leaders before the end of May 2025.
“This meeting must address the status of the stalled Organised Labour structures and chart a way forward for inclusive, transparent, and principled collaboration,” the letter noted.
While reaffirming its commitment to unity within the labour movement, the GFL warned that respect, consultation, and transparency must underpin all joint actions going forward.
