A labour analyst Austin Gamey has leveled sharp criticism against the government, attributing the recent surge in labour unrest and strikes to unchecked campaign spending and neglect of worker grievances.
Over the past several weeks, the country has experienced a wave of industrial actions, with several major labour unions, including the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union of Ghana (TUSAAG), the Federation of University Senior Staff Associations of Ghana (FUSSAG), and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), leading protests over delayed and unpaid allowances.
These strikes have disrupted several sectors of the public service and heightened tensions between the government and its workforce.
At the heart of the labour crisis is a growing sentiment among public sector workers, many of whom feel sidelined as the government gears up for the 2024 General Elections.
According to Gamey, the government’s prioritisation of electioneering campaigns and political interests over workers’ concerns has played a significant role in the escalating labour unrest.
In his view, the state has turned a blind eye to the needs of the workforce while directing vast sums of money towards funding political campaigns, which in turn fuels resentment among workers.
Speaking in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, Gamey voiced his concerns about the current situation, warning that if immediate steps are not taken to address the underlying issues, the country is likely to face an even more severe wave of labour strikes in the coming weeks.
“I think their own actions also is giving an impression to the workers concerned that as if they don’t care about them because you are busily campaigning, they see people spending money because your going and your coming is being run on fuel and you eat, you sleep.
“It is not just 10 people. Hundreds of people are in the bush doing that. It is a lot of money so obviously the people will feel embittered and that is the reason why the strikes are becoming rampant, and we will get even worse in the coming weeks. So, we just have to find ways and means of dealing with the matter without delay,” he stated.
