The Media Coalition Against Galamsey has expressed disappointment over the Ghana Medical Association’s (GMA) decision to withdraw from the upcoming nationwide strike organized by Labour.
This strike is set to take place on Thursday, October 10, 2024, in protest of the government’s inadequate response to the illegal mining (galamsey) crisis.
The Coalition had hoped the GMA, as a key institution, would participate in the strike to increase pressure on the government for decisive action against galamsey, which has had devastating impacts on both the environment and public health.
Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, Convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, emphasized the serious health risks posed by galamsey in an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Tuesday, October 8. He urged the GMA to reconsider its decision to withdraw.
“It is a shame that we have the GMA, who were among the first institutions to advocate for the use of various legal and democratic tools to address this problem, which is more medical than anything else. It’s difficult to understand why the GMA would dissociate itself from this action,” Dr. Ashigbey stated.
He pointed out the critical health implications of galamsey, including water contamination and respiratory issues, which pose serious threats to public health.
Dr. Ashigbey called on the GMA to join other labor unions in the fight against galamsey, stressing the importance of collective action in protecting public health.
“The health implications are dire, and I hope the GMA reconsiders their decision. Nevertheless, we have a number of labor unions committed to this cause.
Posterity will judge all of us on what we did when Ghana was on the brink of poisoning itself to extinction—where did people stand? The internet does not forgive or forget,” he added.
