The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has announced an indefinite nationwide strike, led by Organised Labour, in protest against the government’s failure to take decisive action against illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as galamsey.
The strike, set to begin on October 10, 2024, will continue until the government responds positively to the demands for a ban on unregulated mining and a declaration of a state of emergency to address the issue.
The decision to embark on the strike was confirmed in a statement on Tuesday, October 1, by Joshua Ansah, the Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC). He stated that Organised Labour had issued several demands concerning the rampant illegal mining activities in the country, but the government had failed to meet the October 1 deadline to address those concerns. As a result, Organised Labour has decided to intensify the pressure on the government by declaring an indefinite strike.
“Following the expiration of our deadline, and the failure of the government to meet our demands on illegal mining, Organised Labour has decided to declare a nationwide strike with effect from October 10, 2024,” Ansah announced.
The illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey, have become a pressing issue in Ghana, causing extensive damage to water bodies, forest reserves, and the environment at large. Organised Labour and various unions are demanding that the government take immediate action, including the revocation of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, which they believe has allowed the situation to spiral out of control.
As part of their demands, the unions are calling for a ban on all unregulated mining activities and for security forces to be deployed to the areas most affected by galamsey, particularly along key waterbodies and forest areas. The unions argue that the lack of adequate action from the government has led to a worsening of environmental degradation, posing a significant threat to the country’s natural resources and overall development.
In a follow-up discussion on the Citi Breakfast Show with Bernard Avle on Wednesday, October 2, Kenneth Koomson, the Deputy General Secretary of the GFL, reiterated the frustrations of Organised Labour regarding the government’s inaction. According to Koomson, despite making their demands clear, the government has not taken any concrete steps to address the issues raised.
“The demands were specific and clear, and the government has not yet responded to any of the demands that we made,” Koomson said during the interview.
He further emphasized that the unions had called for the revocation of LI 2462, which they believe has contributed to the rise in illegal mining.
In addition, the unions had asked for increased security measures to be implemented in the areas most affected by galamsey, particularly around waterbodies and forests, where the environmental impact has been most severe. However, none of these requests have been granted, leading to the decision to initiate the strike.
Koomson expressed the unions’ concerns about the long-term impact of galamsey on Ghana’s development, describing it as one of the greatest threats facing the country today.
He pointed out that the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining activities was undermining the nation’s progress and future sustainability. Given the seriousness of the issue, he added that Organised Labour would not back down unless their demands were fully met by the government.
“It is an indefinite strike because we all understand the gravity of the problem that we are dealing with, and so we consider this a top-notch problem that we have to tackle with all we can, and so it will be an indefinite strike,” Koomson said.
The unions are firm in their stance that the strike will not be called off until the government takes meaningful steps to address the illegal mining crisis.
They are particularly focused on ensuring that the government’s response includes a total ban on galamsey, the deployment of security personnel to affected areas, and the implementation of stringent measures to protect the country’s water resources and forest reserves from further degradation.
The announcement of the strike has already garnered significant public attention, with many Ghanaians expressing support for the unions’ demands. The issue of illegal mining has long been a source of concern for citizens, who have witnessed the devastating effects of galamsey on the country’s landscape, rivers, and ecosystems.
The unions hope that the strike will send a strong message to the government that urgent action is needed to combat the illegal mining activities that are crippling the nation’s environment and natural resources.
As the strike date approaches, there are growing calls for the government to engage in meaningful dialogue with Organised Labour and address their concerns before the situation escalates further.
However, as of now, the unions remain resolute in their decision to proceed with the indefinite strike, unless their demands are met in full.
The Ghana Federation of Labour, together with other unions, has vowed to continue the fight against galamsey until the government takes the necessary steps to safeguard the country’s environment.
The coming days are expected to be crucial, as the government faces increasing pressure to respond to the demands of Organised Labour and find a lasting solution to the illegal mining crisis.
