Has NPP completely lost it by calling organised labor’s bluff in election year? — Bright Simons

Vice President of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons, has questioned whether the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has lost touch with reality by refusing to back down its planned sale of SSNIT hotels shares amid threats of a nationwide strike by organized labor.

Reacting to labor union statements announcing an indefinite strike starting Monday, July 15, Mr. Simons wrote on X, "I sincerely can't understand this. Has the ruling party in Ghana completely lost it? Who calls the bluff of Organised Labour in an election year?".

His comments come as major unions including the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Forum of Public Sector Workers and the Ghana Federation of Labour rejected government claims that the sale was in the interest of pensioners, doubling down on demands for its "immediate" termination.

In their statement, TUC Secretary General Dr. Yaw Baah said "We find it extremely difficult to understand how and why NPRA would turn around to approve such a flawed deal two weeks after the directive".

Several unions, including the Ghana Medical Association, and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) have joined the call to proceed with the indefinite nationwide industrial action.

Meanwhile, reports say Rock City, owned by Agric Minister Bryan—the company said to be buying the hotels, has withdrawn its bid.