The Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) has announced that its members will not participate in the nationwide strike organized by Labour, scheduled to begin on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
In a statement released on Wednesday, October 9, GHOSPA acknowledged the important role of Organised Labour in advocating for workers’ rights and addressing national issues, such as the ongoing illegal mining (galamsey) crisis.
While expressing support for the objectives of the strike, the association emphasized the need for its members to remain at work to ensure the continuity of healthcare services.
GHOSPA called on all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to carry on with their duties as usual until further notice.
“While GHOSPA agrees with the issues raised by Organised Labour, we also recognize the vital role that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians play in providing healthcare services to the people of Ghana. As part of the essential workforce, we are dedicated to ensuring consistent healthcare delivery, even amid industrial disputes,” the statement read.
The association continued: “Thus, even though GHOSPA will not be joining the nationwide strike, we fully support Organised Labour’s requests and urge the government to promptly address the issue of galamsey. We also call on all political parties to come together and agree on a pact that ensures a thorough and lasting resolution to this urgent problem.”
Organised Labour has planned the strike in response to the government’s perceived inaction regarding the illegal mining crisis.
The group has made several demands, including a ban on all forms of small-scale mining within forest reserves and water bodies and a declaration of a state of emergency in galamsey-affected communities.
Meanwhile, the government has indicated that it is intensifying efforts under “Operation Halt,” led by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in collaboration with small-scale miners, to eliminate illegal small-scale mining activities that are degrading the country’s water bodies and natural resources.
