Organised Labour is demanding the dissolution of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) Board and top management over the botched sale of 60 percent shares in four hotels owned by the Trust.

In a statement issued on Friday, July 12, 2024, Organised Labour directed all public sector workers not to show up for work effective July 15 until the transaction is terminated and publicly communicated by the Trust.

This, however, sent a wave of collective support from other labour unions who directed their members and workers to follow the directive.

But in the late hours of the day the directive was issued, Rock City Hotel, which belongs to Minister of Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, announced its decision to withdraw its bid in the sale.

Subsequently, SSNIT also announced its decision to discontinue the sale process entirely, which it said was nearing its final stages with Bryan Acheampong’s company [Rock City Hotel].

Despite the developments, the Deputy Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour, Kenneth Koomson, said the strike action remains in force until the SSNIT board is dissolved.

“Ghana’s independence wouldn’t have been possible without the involvement of workers, and politicians should know that. The unity displayed on July 12 is just the tip of the iceberg, and going forward, Organised Labour is going to ensure that the ordinary Ghanaian is well taken care of.

“SSNIT’s function is to ensure social security for the population and so the leadership [of Organised Labour] recognised that the way by which the hotels were being sold was flawed and if you look at the content of the letter, we said we were not going to call off the strike until SSNIT board is dissolved,” he told Accra-based Citi FM on Monday July 15, 2024.

Koomson continued, “We thought that it was important to assemble today to review the letter that has been written by SSNIT and then take a decision and so today will be a day to communicate to the public where we stand today and an announcement will be made afterwards.”

Meanwhile, Organised Labour is expected to hold an emergency meeting on July 15 to decide on the next steps regarding a decision to embark on an industrial strike action.

MA/AE