TEWU of TUC appoints first female deputy General Secretary

Miss Gifty Abena Turkson has been elected Deputy General Secretary of the Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) of TUC (Ghana).

In a press statement issued by the General Secretary of the Union, King James Azortibah to announce her appointment, it is noted that, she was confirmed following the passing of the late Brother Charles Kofi Osei, who was elected to the role at the Union’s 13th Quadrennial Delegates Conference in April 2024, but sadly died on 12 April 2025.

Miss Turkson’s elevation to this top-tier leadership position was ratified by the National Executive Council at a two-day meeting held in Accra, by the Union’s constitutional provisions.

With this appointment, she becomes the first woman to serve as Deputy General Secretary in the Union’s nearly 60-year history, cementing a new era of gender inclusivity for TEWU. The development follows a similar milestone achieved last year when TEWU elected its first female National Chairperson.

Before assuming her new post, Miss Turkson served as the Eastern Regional Industrial Relations Officer (IRO), having previously held the same position in the Upper West Region, where she was honoured as the Overall Best Worker by the TUC. With over a decade of experience in labour relations, she is recognised for her unwavering advocacy in advancing workers’ rights and shaping progressive labour policy.

The new Deputy General Secretary brings with her a profound academic and professional portfolio. She holds a Master’s in Labour Policies and Globalisation from the Berlin School of Economics and Law, another Master’s in Labour Studies and a B.A. in Management Studies from the University of Cape Coast, and a Diploma in International Labour Strategies from the University of Kassel, Germany.

Miss Turkson also serves as an online academy tutor with the Global Labour University. She has represented Ghana on international platforms, including as a student representative on the GLU Academic Board Steering Committee.

Her election has notably shifted the gender dynamics at the national leadership level of TEWU, which now comprises four women and three men among its key officers. With her appointment, TEWU’s leadership team now includes women in the roles of National Chairperson, Second Vice Chairperson, Deputy General Secretary, and First National Trustee.

Miss Turkson is widely lauded for her intellectual contributions to labour discourse, including research on the impact of IMF bailouts on the informal economy and her persistent calls for solidarity within the education sector workforce. She has also been instrumental in designing and facilitating capacity-building workshops for women and young union members across Ghana.

In a statement, the National Leadership of TEWU expressed its confidence in Miss Turkson’s capacity to help advance the Union’s mission: “We welcome Sister Gifty Abena Turkson to her new role and assure her of our collective support as we work together to elevate TEWU’s impact—championing improved conditions of service and enhanced welfare for our cherished members.” the statement noted.

With a rich blend of grassroots activism, strategic insight, and international exposure, Miss Turkson steps into her new role poised to steer TEWU into a transformative future.

Read More