Member of the 2024 Manifesto Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Poku has taken on Organized Labour, particularly accusing Teacher unions of taking delight in laying down their tools.
Kwadwo Poku sad this while speaking on the just ended strike embarked on by Organized Labour.
Organized Labour, the umbrella body of the various workers unions, declared an indefinite nationwide strike on Friday, July 12, 2024 in protest against attempts by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to sell 60 percent of its shares in 4 hotels.
The declaration triggered dramatic reactions from the prospective buyer, Rock City Hotel, owned by Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong and the Trust.
No sooner had Organized Labour announced its industrial action than Rock City Hotel indicated that it was no longer interested in the deal.
Then in the night of same day, the Trust announced that it was discontinuing with the process to sell off the shares.
But Organized Labour said it was pressing on and demanded the heads of those who initiated the deal.
The University Teachers Association of Ghana, for instance, said in a statement that it was not backing down unless the board of SSNIT was dissolved and the Managing-Director fired.
They, however, reconsider their position at an emergency meeting yesterday and have now called off the strike.
But speaking on JoyNews TV, Kwadwo Poku accused Organized Labour of hypocrisy.
“The unfortunate news that came out sometime Thursday, Friday about this strike by Organized Labour. I think it’s a big hypocrisy,” he stated.
He argued that majority of the board members of SSNIT are members of Organized Labour and thus, they would have shot down the move if labour was indeed against the sale.
“The board is made up of 6 independent which is organised Labour, Employers Association and Pension Association,” he said.
“So why are we trying to pull a wool over Ghanaians’ eyes to make it look like it is government that is influencing this when you the Organised Labour has the power, representatives on the board to stop this from going forward”.
Kwadwo Poku singled out teacher unions, accusing them of taking delight in going on strikes.
“I was surprised to see Teachers union (making fresh demands) and I have always said teachers union, for me, I think that they just love to go on strike”.
