Organised Labour yesterday announced an indefinite nationwide strike, effective October 10, to exert pressure on the government to take decisive actions on the increasing spate of illegal mining (galamsey) in the country.
The decision, taken at an emergency meeting by the unions in Accra yesterday, follows the government’s failure to meet a set of demands to clamp down on galamsey by September 30, 2024 which expired on Monday.
“We are therefore calling on all workers to stay home starting Thursday October 10, 2024 until the government accede to our demands,” a joint statement issued by Organised Labour said.
It was co-signed by the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Ghana, Mr Joshua Ansah; the Chairman of Forum, Dr Isaac Bampoe Addo, and Deputy Secretary of the Ghana Federation of Labour, Kenneth Koomson.
It is recalled that Organised Labour last month threatened to embark on series of demonstrations and a nationwide strike if the President failed to meet some demands, including a declaration of a state of emergency on galamsey.
In line with the provisions of the 1992 Constitution (Articles 31 and 31(4), it said the state of emergency should include an order to halt all forms of mining (legal or illegal) in forest reserves and around water bodies.
The unions also demanded immediate evacuation of all mining equipment in forest reserves and around water bodies and the deployment of the Police and the Military to enforce law on galamsey.
They asked that the security personnel should be given full orders to remove/destroy all mining equipment and other earth moving equipment around river bodies and in the forest reserves.
The statement said Organised Labour had followed the ongoing public-spirited discussions on illegal mining and its consequential impact on the country’s forest cover, water bodies and ecology, health and other implications.
“It is now clear to us as it is to all well-meaning Ghanaians that the menace of galamsey has reached a crisis proportion. The depletion of our forest cover has never been this rapid. The destruction of our water bodies is at an unprecedented scale. Our entire ecosystem is on the precipice,” it said.
The impending strike action by organised labour comes amidst spirited advocacy for the government to find a lasting solution to the galamsey menace which is causing destruction to rivers, forest and public health.
Over the last few weeks, various groups and individuals, including traditional and religious leaders and groups, professional bodies have called out the government to bold solutions.
Some protesters who engaged in alleged illegalities during a demonstration against galamsey are being prosecuted while more protest have been announced for their release and action on the galamsey.
Some civil society organisations, led by A Rocha Ghana, an environmental conservation organisation, have filed an application at the High Court in Accra for an interlocutory injunction against the government to halt mining activities in the country’s forest reserves.
The government on the other hand, has set up a special committee to tackle the issue and has also ordered regional security councils to intensify enforcement actions on illegal mining.
BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI
