Agricultural trade union GAWU strengthens welfare and gender equality in Ghana

The General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) continues to make significant progress in promoting workers’ rights, improving welfare and fostering good industrial relations on Ghana’s agricultural estates. Despite ongoing challenges, union leaders say teamwork, cooperation and strategic engagement have been key to their success.

The palm oil and plantation sector in Ghana remains an important source of rural employment, but continues to face poor working conditions, low wages and weak safety standards. According to Emelia Ghansah, head of education and training at GAWU, many workers, especially women, have precarious contracts and are exposed to hazardous agricultural chemicals without proper training or protective clothing.

Emelia Ghansah

Weak enforcement of labour laws, fear of reprisals among contract workers and inadequate protective equipment, especially for women, remain major concerns, said Ghansah. "Transparency about wages is another issue, as many workers do not have pay slips or do not understand how their wages are calculated," she added.

More effective approach

At a plantation of Plantations Socfinaf Ghana (PSG) in Daboase, Andrews Bordoh, secretary of the local trade union, explained how far his union has come. "We have made remarkable progress thanks to the efforts of the management and cooperation with our international partners and with the employees," he said. One of their most important successes is the establishment of a robust gender commission that focuses on the welfare of women in particular and on issues related to motherhood and maternal health, childcare and harassment.

Andrews Bordoh

GAWU's collaboration with international labour organizations has also strengthened its advocacy at the local, national and even international levels. "Through our collaboration with global trade unions, we can address grievances more effectively and build trust among workers, while promoting South-South cooperation," said Ghansah.

Balancing tasks

The union is strongly committed to gender equality and inclusion. Wilson Amoah, manager at PSG, emphasized the strict workplace policy to protect women from harassment. "We do not tolerate any form of sexual harassment. Regardless of your position, you will be dismissed if found guilty," he explained. Pregnant employees also receive medical care to protect their health. With over 2,000 employees at PSG, and a gender ratio of 40% women and 60% men, GAWU remains committed to inclusivity and respect.

Secretary Bordoh did note that union leaders struggle to balance their duties with their work schedules. "Union work is part of the job, but sometimes management does not give us the space to take it on," he complained. Looking ahead, the trade union remains focused on improving welfare, strengthening protections for women and gaining more freedom to organize one’s work. "Without the union, the work will not be complete," said Bordoh. "If the union is successful, so is the company."

IPOWU strengthens GAWU's work

GAWU sees the International Palm Oil Workers United network (IPOWU) as strengthening the struggle within the palm oil sector in Ghana. According to union leaders, the recent meeting in Indonesia was an eye-opener for Ghanaian participants, helping them learn how to improve labour relations, protect workers and promote fair policies in the palm oil industry.

In Daboase, PSG local union chair Geoffrey Zottor said that the training helps the union protect vulnerable workers, particularly women and workers on temporary contracts, who often face discrimination in terms of pay and job allocation, both within and outside the sector. "We realized how important it is to have a clear policy that ensures women are not discriminated against and that workers on temporary contracts are treated fairly," he says. Management also emphasizes that they are the only operating company that has successfully addressed this inequality in recent years and continues to do so through its ongoing commitment to equal pay and gender equality.

Geoffrey Zottor

Inspiring success stories

Zottor added that trade unions from other countries shared their success stories. "It inspired us to improve what we already have and implement what we are still missing," he said. "International solidarity helps us understand how we can push for more people-centred policies." He pointed to a major gap in the trade union movement in Ghana, namely the weak use of solidarity between trade unions. "Even labour legislation recognizes the need for solidarity, but we are not yet making good use of it. Through IPOWU, we have learned how cooperation between trade unions can make us stronger," he noted.

Text: Rosemond Akuorkor Adjetey