The Minority Caucus Committee on Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions has marked May Day with a strong critique of the government, accusing the administration of stripping away workers’ rights through mass dismissals and undermining collective bargaining structures.
In a statement titled “Defending Workers’ Rights and Dignity,”Ranking Member Mavis Nkansah-Boadu warned that while May Day is meant to celebrate Ghanaian workers, this year’s observance is overshadowed by what she described as an “onslaught against decent jobs.”
Nkansah-Boadu expressed concern over mass terminations, stating:
“Today, unfortunately, the progress we have made as a nation is being undermined by the current administration’s mass termination of appointments. Workers’ rights are being stripped away before our eyes.”
She also accused the government of silencing organised labour, alleging that some labour union leaders have been appointed into the executive arm of government, preventing them from speaking out.
She criticized the government’s handling of the recent minimum wage increase, calling it a betrayal of stakeholder consultations.
“The increase in the minimum wage has unsurprisingly fallen far short of expectations since the government purposely ambushed negotiations”.
The Minority Caucus urged workers and unions to break their silence, emphasizing the need for solidarity in protecting decent jobs and workers’ dignity.
“Let the spirit of solidarity resonate throughout our communities today. We urge all workers and unions to share our fight and spread our message to protect decent jobs and the dignity of workers.”
The Minority’s message aligns with the International Trade Union Confederation’s 2025 theme:“Industrialization, Trade, and Decent Work for Social Justice.”
Madam Nkansah-Boadu ended her May Day address with a strong call for resistance, urging workers to stand against the Mahama-led administration’s labour policies.
“Ayekoo to all workers, but the fight for justice is far from over.”
