By Laudia Sawer, GNA
Tema, July 9, GNA – Mr Abraham Koomson, Secretary-General of Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has called for a proactive and robust labour front to ensure that the governance is in the interest of Ghanaians.
He said Union Leaders have been docile for too long and allowed governments, past and present and their functionaries to take for granted the power of labour.
“Organised labour should have strongly raised issues facing the economy before the government’s move for a bailout from the International Monitory Fund (IMF),”
The GFL General-Secretary stated reacting to the government’s announcement on its decision to seek help from the IMF, said “Organized Labour should have strongly raised issues about the misuse of state resources, corruption, abuse of office before the economy got messed up as being experienced now.”
Mr Koomson stated this during the 14th Edition of the Stakeholders Engagement and Worker’s Appreciation Day Seminar of the Tema Regional Office of the Ghana News Agency.
The GNA Tema Stakeholder Engagement is a platform rolled out for state and non-state actors to address national issues and serves as a motivational mechanism to recognize the editorial contribution of reporters toward national development in general and the growth and promotion of the Tema GNA as the industrial news hub.
He said it was unfortunate that the internal conflicts among the labour organizations made it impossible for collective action to call the government to order.
He stated for instance that as spokespersons for workers in the country, the labour unions should have stood up against policies and actions that are against the ordinary Ghanaian.
Mr Koomson added that other issues included the construction of the National
Cathedral with state funds, the unilateral decision of the Minister of Roads to close the toll booths whilst the maintenance of the roads continued to be funded by the state, which constitute financial losses to the country.
“Corruption having become a daily occurrence poses challenges to the economic growth of the country and the labour movement looked on unconcerned,” he lamented.
The GFL Secretary-General said it was therefore difficult for organized labour to speak against the government seeking IMF assistance to address financial problems the country was encountering now.
He said already the citizens were overwhelmed by the huge taxations to raise revenue locally for development, therefore the only alternative source of intervention to sustain the economy was to surrender to the IMF notwithstanding the consequences.
GNA
