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Organised Labour is scheduled to hold a crucial meeting on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, to finalize its planned nationwide protest against the government’s lack of action on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. The protest is aimed at pressuring the government to address the ongoing environmental destruction caused by illegal miners.
Several unions and associations had previously threatened to hold demonstrations by the end of September if President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo failed to declare a state of emergency to curb the devastation of rivers and forest reserves.
Speaking to Citi News on Sunday, September 29, Abdul Moomin Gbana, the General Secretary of the Ghana Mine Workers Union, which is part of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), confirmed that the meeting will review their plans and determine the next steps.
“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,” Mr. Gbana said.
He further indicated that Organised Labour remains committed to its original plan, and expects Tuesday’s meeting to endorse the decision to proceed with the protest.
In addition, Mr. Gbana criticized President Akufo-Addo for not addressing the illegal mining issue during his speech at the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awards night on Saturday, September 28.
“It is clear that the President is either overwhelmed with the whole illegal mining menace, he is either 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,” he remarked.
