Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has issued a pointed warning to the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), urging the party to urgently deepen its engagement with organised labour or risk losing a critical base of support that could determine the success of its administration.

Speaking on Ahotor FM's Yepe Ahunu programme on Saturday, July 18, 2026, Koomson drew on the legacy of Ghana's first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, to make his case, arguing that history had already proven the strategic value of aligning government with the labour movement.

"Kwame Nkrumah succeeded with labour. The TUC played a critical role in the struggle for independence, after which he made the TUC an integral part of the ruling CPP. He recognised the role of Ghanaian workers under the umbrella of the TUC and involved them in governance," he said.

Koomson stressed that engaging labour was neither inappropriate nor politically unusual, and that the NDC needed to move beyond the TUC to engage all of Ghana's more than 100 labour unions operating across the country.

"There are over 100 labour unions in Ghana today, so it's not only the TUC that matters. Every worker matters. It is not a crime for a political party in government to engage labour," he said.

The GFL boss directed part of his criticism at the officials surrounding President John Dramani Mahama, arguing that the President's busy schedule meant those around him had a responsibility to prioritise labour relations on his behalf.

"The President needs to work closely with the labour unions, and the people around him should recognise the need for the NDC to build a good relationship with labour. That is the problem I currently have with the NDC," he said.

Ghana Federation of Labour warns NDC against premature campaigns

Koomson also raised alarm over what he described as the NPP's growing influence within the Trades Union Congress, claiming the opposition party had strategically positioned itself to use the labour body to undermine the current government.

"The NPP has strategically taken charge of the TUC and has a lot of influence there. During last year's May Day celebration, the TUC Secretary General criticised the NDC over galamsey even though the government had been in office for only about three months. Yet during the NPP's eight years in office, they remained largely silent on many issues," he claimed.

Invoking Nkrumah's philosophy that organisation decides, Koomson warned that brilliant policies alone would not deliver results without the engine of organised labour behind them.

"A government may have all the brains and brilliant ideas, but without organisation it will struggle. Labour is central to national development, and government must be interested in what happens within the labour unions," he said.

He concluded with a frank assessment of where the NDC currently stood on the issue.

"The NDC is not active enough because the top hierarchy does not understand the importance of aligning with labour unions. It is important to build friendships within the labour movement so workers can better understand the government's ideologies and policies," he said.

ID/VPO

Talkertainment: Enyo Trey shares dreams and aspirations as a rising artiste