Ghana’s Organised Labour has launched a nationwide strike today, July 15, despite successfully pressuring the government to halt a controversial hotel sale.
The strike action comes just days after the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), a government agency, terminated its attempt to sell its 60 percent shares in four hotels to Rock City Hotel, a company owned by Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong.
Although SSNIT announced the termination of the sale process on Friday, following Rock City Hotel’s withdrawal of its bid, Organised Labour has decided to proceed with the planned strike.
A total of 10 government agencies declared their intention to join the impending strike action by Organised Labour in protest of the proposed sale of 60% of Social Security and National Insurance Trust’s (SSNIT) shares in some four hotels.
Dr Eliasu Mumuni, National Secretary of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), explained the decision in an interview with Citi News.
“There is a breach of trust,” Dr Mumuni stated, “and that is why we are saying that because there is that public press statement issued [announcing the termination], we as part of the broader organised labour front should not go and sleep.”
The labour group’s distrust stems from what they perceive as SSNIT’s disregard for their previous warnings and concerns.
Dr Mumuni recounted how the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) had initially put the transaction on hold following an ultimatum from Organised Labour. However, it later emerged that NPRA had given approvals for the sale, catching the labour groups off guard.
This series of events has led Organised Labour to push for more significant changes. “We think that it is time we look into the SSNIT board structure to have the current members relieved of their positions and bring new people on board,” Dr Mumuni added.
The hotels in question include La Palm Beach Hotel, Labadi Beach Hotel, Royal Ridge Hotel, and Elmina Beach Hotel.
The strike is expected to cause significant disruptions across various sectors in Ghana. It underscores the deep-seated issues between Organised Labour and SSNIT, extending beyond the immediate controversy of the hotel sale.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has urged its members “not to report to work on Monday,” July 15, 2014, until further notice.
The ten agencies that have committed to participating in the strike include the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), and the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU).
Others were Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), the Judicial Service STAFF Association of Ghana (JUSAG) and the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives’ Association (GRNMA) and General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union
