Ghana’s Fight Against Galamsey: Labour Unions’ Nationwide Strike – Will It Bring Change?
Ghana’s fight against Galamsey and the move by the labour unions in Ghana have confirmed they will start a nationwide strike on October 10th, 2024. You may be asking if the strike will bring any change.
But before we answer that question, can you imagine waking up one morning in Ghana to find out that you cannot drink the clean water from the tap or use water from rivers and streams because they have been polluted with mercury and other chemicals? You visit a family member who has delivered at the hospital and find out nearly all babies are born deformed and the youth are suffering from strange diseases caused by galamsey-affected rivers and land.
Imagine being told that farmlands in Ghana can no longer be used to grow crops because chemicals used in mining have polluted the water bodies; hence, produce from farmlands will have traces of the harmful chemicals in them. This simply means you have to buy food and water imported into the country. Can you imagine how terrible life will be in such a situation? This is just simple but vivid imagery that highlights the devastating effects of Galamsey gradually. Indeed, we are sitting on a timebomb, and our very existence is under attack as a nation.
Currently, Galamsey is destroying our water bodies, farmlands, cocoa farms, and the environment in general. The effects of this ruch for gold are already showing in the colour of rivers and streams, the distribution of cocoa farms, mining in rivers and polliting them, as well as the increased cost of treating water for domestic and industrial use.
A US-based environmental engineer, Dr. Juliet Ohemeng-Ntiamoah, has stated that, heavy metals have been found in exports from Ghana in exported farm produce like yam, making it difficult for Ghanaians abroad to buy and use such food stuffs.
Cancer and other diseases resulting from the chemicals used for mining are sterring at all Ghanaians, and the medical experts have concluded that Ghana cannot deal with such cancers. The earlier we put a stop to this destructive mining practice, the better.
The strike by labour unions will start on 10th October until further notice per the latest update from Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Joshua Ansah.
The strike must not be a one-day event if its impact is to be felt by the government. Speaking at a media briefing on Monday [Oct 7, 2024], he said unless the government takes decisive action, Organised Labour will go ahead with the nationwide strike.
“We have concluded as follows: our strike remains unchanged… we are of the view that what the government has proposed does not adequately address our demands, and therefore our notice of strike remains unchanged,” he stated.
READ: CHRAJ Petitioned the Police over ‘#Say No To Galamsey’ Protest
The above worrying issues have informed the labour unions in Ghana to embark on this all-important strike action to send a strong signal to the government, which has only paid lip service to the fight against illegal ining. Major Mahama and other persons who have died helping fight illegal mining, and the failure of President Nana Addo, who promised to put his presidency on the line in fighting Galemsey, has not been effective but sad.
All Ghanaians need to rise up and join this strike action to help fight illegal mining. The objective of the Labour Unions’ Nationwide Strike Action is to compell the government to suspend illegal mining in all forms now. This strike is critical, given that Ghana will vote for a new president and members of parliament on December 7. If the government fails to act in the manner demanded by labour unions, it may impact the votes the ruling NPP government gains in the presidential and parliamentary elections.
If you do not add your voice to the strike action at home, in your community, and on social media, the effort of the labour union leaders will not be impactful. The fact that Catholic bishops and the Fetish Prisest Association of Ghana have also indicated that they will also embark on a strike to add their voice to the fight against Galamsey.
It is time to support the strike, share these stories, or demand government action. Join the Ghana’s Fight Against Galamsey now.