Organized Labour is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, October 1, to finalize plans for a nationwide protest aimed at urging the government to take decisive action against illegal mining, commonly referred to as ‘galamsey.’
This protest is a response to the government’s perceived inaction regarding the escalating environmental destruction caused by galamsey, which has severely affected rivers, forest reserves, and agricultural lands throughout Ghana.
Earlier this month, several unions and workers’ associations warned that they would proceed with a demonstration by the end of September if the government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo did not declare a state of emergency to address illegal mining activities.
The planned protest reflects the growing frustration among organized labor and civil society groups, who argue that illegal mining has reached crisis levels, resulting in devastating consequences for the environment and local communities.
In an interview with Accra-based Citi FM on Sunday, Abdul Moomin Gbana, General Secretary of the Ghana Mine Workers Union, confirmed that a significant meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 1.
This meeting will include key stakeholders in Organized Labour and will focus on assessing the current situation, reviewing their demands, and making a final decision on the planned protest.
Gbana stressed that the leadership of Organized Labour remains committed to their initial plan for a nationwide demonstration, noting that the government has not adequately addressed their demands.
He emphasized that the unions are determined to hold the government accountable for its promises to combat the galamsey issue.
“I don’t think that organised labour in any way will deviate from our original plan. Our original plan holds. Hopefully, on Tuesday, I want to believe that it will be an endorsement of the plan that we put forward and, indeed, the demands that we have made on the president.”
