BY Daniel Bampoe
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has issued a scathing critique of the Mahama-led administration on the occasion of this year’s May Day celebrations, accusing the government of undermining workers’ rights through mass terminations, weak wage negotiations, and compromised union leadership.
In a strongly worded statement signed by Mavis Nkansah-Boadu, Member of Parliament for Afigya Sekyere East and Ranking Member on the Committee on Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions, the Minority described the government’s actions as “an attack on Ghanaian workers” and called for collective resistance across labour fronts.
The statement alleged that the administration has been systematically dismissing employees en masse, a development the caucus argues is reversing the progress made over the years in employment rights and protections.
“Today, unfortunately, the progress we have made as a nation is being undermined by the current administration’s mass termination of appointments,” the statement said.
Adding to the concerns, Nkansah-Boadu highlighted what she described as deliberate government interference in wage negotiations, particularly regarding the recent increase in the national minimum wage.
According to her, the outcome of the wage discussions failed to meet the expectations of stakeholders due to what she termed a “purposeful ambush” by the government during the negotiations.
“The issues relating to the recent increase in the minimum wage have unsurprisingly fallen far short of expectations from the extensive stakeholder engagements,” she stated.
Of particular concern to the Minority is the alleged silence of civil society organizations and labour unions on these developments.
The statement attributed this silence to the co-optation of union leaders through appointments to executive positions in government.
“Workers’ rights are being stripped away before our eyes, and CSOs and labour unions are not protesting because some leaders of these unions have been appointed into the executive arm of government,” the Minority claimed.
Calling on the broader workforce and organized labour to rise in opposition to these trends, the Minority urged a renewed sense of solidarity and action. “Let the spirit of solidarity resonate throughout our communities today,” Nkansah-Boadu declared.
“We urge all workers and unions to share our fight and spread our message to protect the decent jobs and the dignity of workers.”
She referenced this year’s International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Africa theme—“Industrialization, Trade, and Decent Work for Social Justice”—to reinforce the importance of worker rights in building a fair and equitable society.
The Minority’s statement comes amid mixed national sentiments over labour conditions, with many workers expressing dissatisfaction with salaries and job security despite the government’s efforts to mark Labour Day with promises of industrial growth and economic revival.
