Organised Labour has hinted at a second round of industrial action to drum home its demand for the reinstatement of three workers of Sunon Asogli Power Ghana who were sacked over their decision to join the Ghana MineWorkers’ Union.

According to General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr. Yaw Baah, the company has been given up till June 26, 2023, to settle the matter and call the sacked workers to resume as well as enter into negotiations with the Ghana Mineworkers Union otherwise face its wrath again.

“We are now scaling the thing up to the entire organised labour. We are giving them up to 26 of June to get our three guys back to work and if that doesn’t happen, by the said that they will hear from us.”

Dr. Baah added, “Those who should listen, should listen and not only listen but hear us that we are giving them up two weeks, that is June 26 to get our three guys back to work and stop all that intimidation going on and allow the union to finish the unionization.”

He also said that the TUC has resolved to petition the International Labour Organisation at this year’s conference to be held this month.

“In the meantime, on the 9th of June, we are reporting this to the International Labour Conference because we don’t think that this should happen in Ghana after 67 years of independence and so we are taking it up there.”

For his part, the President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, urged the Minister of Employment to act before the said date for the demonstration.

“We the public sector workers will act actively because once it starts at the private sector, only God knows where it will end and we will have to stop it at this time; I will advise the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations to take this matter seriously.” He said

Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, Dr. Isaac Bampoe-Addo, appealed to the Paramount Chief of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XVI to act swiftly to avert the industrial action.

He said, “When we hear Asogli, we know it is Togbe Afede and he is a chief who has sworn an oath to protect his people and if you look at the location of Asogli Power Plant, it is near to his jurisdiction and I’m sure more than 50% of his constituents are working there. So we are appealing to him to make sure that this impasse comes to an end before the 26th of June.”

For his part, Assistant General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr. Richard Selormey, warned employers to desist from infringing on workers' rights.

The University of Ghana UTAG Secretary, Prof. Ransford Gyampo also said it is not an offense for workers to join labour unions.

“I kept wondering whether this is an organisation that is being headed by Togbe Afede; he’s a gentleman, I have a lot of respect for him and so I will join my colleagues to plead with him because we don’t have to get to the point where all labour unions strike to compel him to do the needful but we have the muscle to flex.” He said.

Prof. Gyampo added, “We can compel him; we would act and the government, the President, the state would have no option than also to unleash the forces that they have on him to compel him.