Founding President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe, has advised Organised Labour against cancelling their planned strike over illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
In a tweet, Cudjoe stated, “Organised labour will be very foolish to call off the nationwide strike against state-sponsored illegal mining. The president, his vice-president and the entire government have never been serious about fighting the menace.”
Organised Labour plans to begin an indefinite nationwide strike on October 10, 2024, aimed at pressuring the government to take strong action against galamsey. This decision follows the government’s failure to meet a list of demands by the end of September 2024, which included declaring a state of emergency on illegal mining and deploying security forces to stop all mining activities in forest reserves and near water bodies.
The upcoming strike has received considerable backing from various unions, such as the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC). However, internal disagreements have emerged, with some factions within the labour movement expressing concerns about the strike.
In response to the planned action, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged Organised Labour to reconsider their decision. During a closed-door meeting with union leaders on October 3, 2024, the President assured them of his commitment to addressing the illegal mining issue.
Despite these assurances, skepticism remains regarding the government’s dedication to resolving the crisis, as critics point to a history of inaction. Illegal mining has caused significant damage to Ghana’s environment and public health.
The activities have contaminated water bodies with hazardous substances like mercury and cyanide, led to deforestation, and destroyed agricultural lands. This environmental degradation has reached alarming levels, prompting widespread calls for urgent and effective measures to combat the issue.