With barely 24 hours before the strike deadline, the Organised Labour has called off its October 10th protest after several unions under its wings opted out of the demonstration to compel the government to issue a state of emergency to address illegal mining (galamsey) and safeguard the country’s water bodies.
Several other unions in the health sector lent their support to organised labour but said they would not participate in the strike.
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) expressed solidarity with Organised Labour in the fight against illegal mining but announced that it would not participate in the planned strike.
GMA President Dr Frank Serebour confirmed that the association had not planned any industrial action and urged its members to continue providing uninterrupted medical services.
The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) confirmed its decision not to participate in the nationwide anti-galamsey strike.
In a similar vein, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Managing Director of GIHOC Distilleries, also warned his staff against participating in the strike, asserting that the concerns raised are national issues that do not directly impact GIHOC. He made it clear that any employee who joins the strike would face dismissal.
The Board Chair of the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMeT), Isaac Amoo, has also issued a stern warning to employees regarding the planned nationwide strike on October 10 against illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey. He emphasized that GMeT staff are prohibited from participating in the strike and that any employee who defies this directive will be considered to have terminated their employment.
These associations emphasized their critical role in maintaining healthcare delivery while expressing solidarity with organized labor in addressing the challenges posed by illegal small-scale mining.
Amid the withdrawal and a public plea for the unions to soften their stance and continue discussions with the government, the Organised Labour has suspended its strike. This was announced by the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Joshua Ansah on Wednesday.
Speaking in Accra, the Congress indicated that the decision followed a meeting with the government, during which the administration offered enhanced measures to strengthen the fight against illegal mining.
