Professor Ransford Gyampo of the University of Ghana has called on labour unions within Organised Labour to reconsider their leadership, claiming that current leaders do not adequately serve their members’ interests.
He warned that if unions do not change their leadership, these leaders will continue to prosper while their members suffer.
Gyampo’s remarks follow a planned strike by Organised Labour to protest the government’s inadequate response to illegal mining, known as ‘galamsey.’
However, the strike was abruptly called off the night before it was set to begin. This decision came after leaders from two unions presented a pre-prepared statement at a meeting to discuss the situation.
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) disagreed with this decision and chose to proceed with the strike after a vote across public university campuses.
During a discussion on TV3’s “KeyPoints,” Gyampo alleged that the government had influenced some union leaders to reverse their decision, aiming to weaken UTAG’s dissenting stance.
He emphasized the need for unions to critically evaluate their representatives in negotiations, stating, “If you allow them to continue to lead you, they will remain rich and you will remain poor.”
Gyampo’s comments underscore the tensions within Organised Labour as union members seek effective representation and equitable negotiation outcomes.
