The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has clarified that the strike action announced by Organised Labour on October 1 will remain indefinite until the government responds positively to demands for a ban on illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.
Following the expiration of their deadline and the government’s failure to meet the unions’ demands regarding illegal mining, Organised Labour has declared a nationwide strike set to begin on October 10, 2024.
This strike is part of broader efforts by unions to pressure the government to take decisive action against galamsey, including declaring a state of emergency and banning unregulated mining activities that are damaging water bodies and forest reserves.
Deputy General Secretary of the GFL, Kenneth Koomson reiterated that the government has not responded to any of the unions’ specific demands. He highlighted the need for the revocation of LI 2462 and the deployment of security personnel to protect water bodies and forest areas where mining is occurring.
The unions view galamsey as one of the greatest threats to Ghana’s development and will not engage with the government until their demands are addressed. Mr. Koomson emphasized that the strike will be indefinite due to the seriousness of the situation, which requires urgent action to tackle this critical issue.