By Daniel Bampoe
In a stirring address at the 2025 May Day celebration at Black Star Square in Accra, President John Dramani Mahama issued a bold and unconventional challenge to Ghana’s labour unions and public sector workers: hold me accountable—or fire me—if I fail to stand by you in the face of poor governance and mismanagement of state institutions.
The President’s rallying call was not just a rhetorical flourish. It was a direct appeal for a new era of accountability, not only from government officials and enterprise managers but also from the Ghanaian workforce.
“Do not keep quiet when management is driving your enterprise into ruin,” Mahama charged, reminding workers that it is often they who bear the brunt of institutional collapse.
A Call to Courage
“Comrades and friends, many of you have been working in atrociously managed state institutions over the last years,” Mahama began, speaking to a crowd of trade unionists and government employees.
“Your enterprise where you work belongs to you… and so you must protect those enterprises. When things are going wrong, do not be afraid to say so—and as President, I will back and support you to set things right.”
“We are charging the management and workers of state-owned institutions—let us work together to make these institutions viable because they belong to all of us,” he said.
Reforms
President Mahama used the platform to announce a number of initiatives aimed at transforming Ghana’s public and private labour environment.
Key among them was a plan to implement wide-ranging reforms designed to modernize work conditions, ensure timely salary payments, and streamline administrative processes that often hamper productivity.
Highlighting a long-standing grievance of organized labour, Mahama also pledged to establish an Independent Emoluments Commission as part of the constitutional review process.
This body, he explained, would oversee the formulation of a fair and equitable wage structure in the public sector. “We must bridge the unacceptable gap between Article 71 officeholders and other public servants,” he asserted, referencing the stark disparity in salaries between top government officials and lower-tier workers.
Historical Context: A Relationship Tested
Mahama’s recent overtures to the labour front mark a significant shift from the tension that characterized his last tenure in office.
His previous administration faced fierce opposition from labour unions over delayed salaries, pension fund mismanagement, and the controversial implementation of a three-month salary arrears policy.
That period culminated in numerous strikes and a frayed relationship between the government and labour.
But in his May Day address, John Mahama sought to reset that narrative.
He acknowledged past challenges and promised to “walk the talk” this time around, assuring workers of his administration’s commitment to dignity, fairness, and shared prosperity.
Decentralising Development
In a broader policy pronouncement, the President reiterated his commitment to decentralized development, vowing to bring infrastructure, jobs, and investment to every region of Ghana—not just urban centers like Accra and Kumasi.
“It should not be the case that the only real chance at prosperity exists if you live in Accra or Kumasi,” he stated. “Every Ghanaian, from Wa to Aflao, from Bole to Keta, and from Drobo to Enchi, deserves an equal shot at building a meaningful life.”
