Organised Labour is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, October 1, to finalize its decision regarding a nationwide protest against the government’s inaction on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Various unions and associations had earlier warned they would protest if the president did not declare a state of emergency to address the ongoing destruction of rivers and forest reserves caused by illegal mining by the end of September.
In an interview with Citi News on Sunday, September 29, the General Secretary of the Ghana Mine Workers Union, Abdul Moomin Gbana, confirmed that Tuesday’s meeting would determine the next steps for their planned demonstration.
“The leadership of Organised Labour, after the notice we sent and the demands we put forward, have agreed to meet on Tuesday, October 1, to review what has transpired and consolidate our position on the way forward,” he explained. “I don’t think Organised Labour will deviate from our original plan. It still holds. On Tuesday, I believe there will be an endorsement of the plan and the demands we have made to the president.”
Mr. Gbana also criticized President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for not addressing the issue during his speech at the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awards on Saturday, September 28.
“It is clear that the President is either overwhelmed by the illegal mining issue, he is giving up on the fight, or he simply wants to send a message that we cannot challenge him. It is one of these three reasons, and that’s why Organised Labour is not backing down from this fight,” Gbana stated.
Source:dailymailgh.com