Managing Director of GIHOC Distilleries Limited, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, has warned his staff against participating in an upcoming strike organized by Organised Labour.
He stated that the issues raised by Organised Labour are national concerns and do not directly affect GIHOC, adding that he does not support the protest and will not encourage his employees to join as it goes against company policies.
In an interview with Oyerepa FM, Jumah firmly cautioned that any GIHOC employee who joins the strike will face immediate dismissal.
“I hope the GIHOC members are listening. If you like, don’t report to work. Anyone who joins them [Organised Labour’s strike] will be sacked. I am saying this on authority. There are labour laws in the country. Let the issue be a national concern, not GIHOC’s own.
“If someone doesn’t sleep well and comes to say things, then you follow. So, if you like, follow them and see. They should not even waste our time because we are wise people at GIHOC,” he stressed.
This follows a notice from Organised Labour, stating they will go on strike on October 10, 2024, if the government does not respond to their demands.
The group has held discussions with the government, requesting a ban on illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey, but no resolution was reached.
Several religious leaders, political figures, and state institutions have also voiced their concerns, calling for an end to the galamsey crisis.
In response, some frustrated Ghanaians staged a three-day protest, urging the government to take decisive action against illegal mining.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has since announced that military personnel will be deployed to various mining sites to combat the issue.