The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has clarified that its recent strike against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, has not been terminated but is instead temporarily suspended.
This announcement follows UTAG’s statement urging its members to suspend strike action effective October 29, 2024.
In an interview on Eyewitness News on Thursday, October 24, 2024, Prof. Akudugu explained that the decision to suspend the strike was made by the National Executive Committee (NEC), which plans to meet with its members during the suspension period to discuss the next steps.
He indicated that the association could consider striking again if its members are dissatisfied with the government’s current efforts to combat illegal mining.
“The NEC’s proposal is not to end the strike but to suspend it; there is a distinction between the two. When we suspend, it means we are allowing some breathing room, and we have a timeline. If we do not achieve our goals, we will resume the strike. Calling it off would imply that we are satisfied with the outcome, which is not the case here—we are simply suspending it.”
UTAG has been a leading voice in the fight against illegal mining, which has severely impacted Ghana’s environment, particularly its water bodies and agricultural lands.
However, Prof. Akudugu expressed disappointment over the lack of support from other unions.
“We want to also call on all Ghanaians that we have stuck our neck out for the past two weeks. Unfortunately, some of the unions that indicated that they were going to join us, none did.
“But we will continue to fight the best way that we could and we will continue to make sure that whichever available tools and techniques that are legally available to us we will use to ensure that this galamsey fight is won,” he stated.
