Morgan Ayawine of ICU-Ghana named among Africa’s most influential persons

Morgan Ayawine, General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) in Ghana, has been named one of Africa’s 100 Most Influential Persons for 2026. The award, presented by the civil society organization The Business Executive, recognizes his contributions to trade unionism, corporate governance, and public policy.

Ayawine was cited for his advocacy in promoting socio-economic development and industrial advancement. His work includes efforts to prevent the transfer of strategic national assets to private investors and facilitating the recapitalization of state-owned enterprises to prevent collapse. He has maintained relationships across industry, banking, finance, and the informal sector to promote industrial harmony.

Following the recognition, Ayawine called on the Ghanaian government to implement stronger, sustainable policies to address youth unemployment and stimulate industrial growth. He emphasized that consistent policy interventions are necessary to attract investment, ensure job security, and improve Ghana’s competitiveness in the global labor market. The ICU is also advocating for the revival of the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) and the recapitalization of financial institutions.