The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has stated that his agitation and the efforts of the Textile Union were crucial in ending the Trades Union Congress's (TUC) monopoly over organised labour in Ghana. This led to the emergence of multiple labour unions in the country. According to him, the Industrial Relations Act of 1965 granted the TUC exclusive recognition to represent workers.
Mr Koomson alleged that some TUC leaders abused the monopoly and failed to adequately address workers' grievances, even as companies struggled and businesses shut down. He explained that the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention opposed the restrictive legal framework and put pressure on the government to amend the law to allow other labour organisations to operate.
The GFL Secretary-General recounted that efforts had been made to establish independent unions outside the TUC's structure, even before the legal reforms. He said the Textile Union was registered in 1993, despite resistance to the emergence of organisations operating independently of the Congress.
Mr Koomson attributed the eventual passage of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), to the struggle he led with the Textile Union and other labour groups. The law established a new framework for labour relations in Ghana and enabled a wider range of unions to organise and represent workers.
He argued that the reforms created opportunities for professional and occupational groups, including the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Pre-Tertiary Teachers' Association of Ghana (PRETAG), nurses and civil servants, to organise and pursue collective bargaining rights. Mr Koomson claimed that without his efforts, these unions would not have emerged.
The GFL Secretary-General further alleged that his campaign to end the TUC's dominance exposed him to threats and intimidation. He claimed that his car was hit on the motorway and somersaulted, adding that those responsible believed he had died and subsequently visited hospitals in search of him.
Mr Koomson acknowledged that the emergence of numerous unions has also created challenges, estimating that Ghana currently has nearly 200 unions. He suggested that the proliferation of labour organisations was not necessarily a positive development, but maintained that the TUC's own decisions contributed significantly to the situation.
Key points
- Abraham Koomson claims his efforts led to the end of TUC's monopoly, enabling multiple labour unions to emerge.
- The Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) enabled a wider range of unions to organise and represent workers.
- Ghana currently has nearly 200 unions, according to Mr Koomson.
