The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has issued a warning to Ghanaian workers against turning against the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC). He believes this could pave the way for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to return to power. According to Koomson, a return of the NPP to government could put the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) at risk.
Speaking on Ahotor FM's Yepe Ahunu programme on Saturday, October 3, 2026, Mr Koomson emphasized that workers should not take actions that could facilitate the NPP's return to power. He alleged that SSNIT could be among the institutions targeted for sale if the NPP returns to office, citing the funds managed by the pension scheme as a possible reason.
Mr Koomson also commented on the ongoing nationwide strike by pre-tertiary teacher unions. He suggested that effective communication between the government and organised labour could have helped prevent the industrial action. The strike involves the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Unions of Ghana (PRETAG).
The teacher unions are protesting unresolved concerns over delayed promotion-related payments, the placement of newly promoted teachers on the appropriate salary scales, negotiations for a new Collective Agreement, and the implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance. Mr Koomson noted that while declaring a strike could be relatively straightforward, calling it off could be more difficult.
Mr Koomson urged the government to establish a more effective communication mechanism between government and organised labour to prevent disputes from escalating into industrial action. He suggested a return to the previous arrangement under which two ministers were assigned separate responsibilities, with one focusing on social welfare and the other on labour relations.
According to Mr Koomson, such an arrangement could help improve engagement between government and labour and ensure that workers' concerns are addressed before they escalate into strikes. This would help prevent future industrial actions and promote a more harmonious relationship between the government and organised labour.
The warning by Mr Koomson comes at a time of heightened tensions between the government and organised labour. His comments are likely to spark further debate about the role of labour in Ghana's politics and the potential risks to SSNIT if the NPP returns to power. The government will be expected to respond to Mr Koomson's concerns and engage with organised labour to address the issues.
Key points
- Abraham Koomson warns Ghanaian workers against supporting NPP's return to power, citing risks to SSNIT.
- Effective communication between government and organised labour could have prevented the ongoing teacher strike.
- Mr Koomson suggests a return to a previous arrangement with two ministers focusing on social welfare and labour relations.
