Galamsey Saga: We’ll proceed with nationwide strike -Organised Labour

Organised Labour has affirmed its commitment to proceed with the nationwide strike scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2024.

The union expressed dissapointment with President -Akufo-Addo’s response to their demands, irrespective of his reaffirmed commitment to tackle smal- scale mining also known as ‘galamsey’.

Organised Labour has been encouraging the president to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining and execute long-term solutions to fight against the threat.

In an interview with the media on Monday, October 7, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress ( TUC), Joshua Ansah, stressed that the union’s decision to go ahead with the strike unless important action is taken by the government before Ultimatum.

” We have concluded as follows; our strike remains unchanged, he said.

” We are of the view that what the government has proposed is not meant to completely address our demands and therefore our notice of strike remains unchanged, he added”.

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Nonetheless, tensions have emerged from Organised Labour as some members, notably from the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana ( TUTAG) and other interest groups, claim they were not informed before the announcement of the strike.

A faction of organised labour, self-described as ” concerned members”, has expressed dissent to how the strike decision was stated.
Even though they endorse efforts to combat galamsey, they feel the leadership’s step towards declaring strike was inappropriate.

The group is calling on Organised Labour’s leadership to suspend the strike and have additional engagement with the government.

A member of TUTAG, Dr. Solomon Fokuo , raised concerns to journalists in Kumasi, underscoring that if the leadership had displayed equivalent dedication to addressing the welfare their mem, the situation could have been well handled.

” We are all against galamsey. We are against all those who are damaging our water bodies and the environment to use lawful means to prevent it to protect our environment but the key concern is what Organised Labour is talking about.

” They have decided to declare a strike on October 10 but we were not consulted and we have not been included and are not aware.

” We have not been involved in any of the activities that they have been doing. We don’t know where they get their energy from and by fighting for our welfare, things would have been better, ” he stated.

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