Planned demo against Galamsey: Organised Labour to meet on Tuesday

Following the lack of will by the NPP-led government to crack down on illegal mining (Galamsey) to save Ghana’s environment and natural resources, organised labour has threatened to stage a demo against Galamsey.

Organised Labour to meet on Tuesday, October 1st, to take a final decision on the demonstration, which is expected to be held nationwide concurrently. The demonstration is expected to help drive home the call for government to take action and stop the lip service appraoch.

Recent videos and images from mining areas and rivers in Ghana have given a rather sad and painful reality of the failure of the government to win the fight against the destructive mining activity of Galamsey.

Workers unions and associations from diverse industries have stated their readiness to hit the streets to communicate their displeasure if the government fails to take action by the end of September 2024.

In recent times, Ghanaians have called for a tougher war against the illegal activities that continue to destroy water bodies and farmlands,  among others, with their serious health implications for the nation.

Mr. Abdul Moomin Gbana, the General Secretary of the Ghana Mine Workers Union, a body under the Trades Union Congress, said Tuesday’s meeting will determine the way forward on their planned protest.

“The leadership of Organized Labour, after the notice that we sent and the demands that we put forward, we have agreed that we will meet hopefully on Tuesday, the 1st of October, to review all that has happened over the period and then consolidate our position on the way forward.

“I don’t think that organised labour in any way will deviate from our original plan. Our original plan holds. Hopefully, on Tuesday, I want to believe that it will be an endorsement of the plan that we put forward and, indeed, the demands that we have made on the president.”

Mr Moomin Gbana also chastised President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for failing to give a public comment during his address at the GJA awards night on Saturday, September 28.

READ: CHRAJ Petitioned the Police over ‘#Say No To Galamsey’ Protest

“It is clear that the President is either overwhelmed with the whole illegal mining menace, It is either he is giving up on the fight, or he simply wants to tell the Ghanaian people that we cannot call the bluff on him. And it is one of the three and that is why Organised Labour is not relenting on this fight.”

The planned demo against Galamsey is expected to add a critical voice to the calls by society.