GMA Petitioned To Remove President Dr Frank Serebour Following Withdrawal From Galamsey Strike
- The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has been petitioned to impeach its president, Dr Frank Serebour
- A directive signed by Dr Serebour has seen the GMA withdraw from the Organised Labour strike set for October 10
- The petitioner argued that the president's directive to members was unilateral and did not follow any due process
A member of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr Vishnu Nene Limon Abayateye, has filed a petition demanding the removal of the association’s president.
The petition follows a directive from the GMA president, Dr Frank Serebour, instructing members not to partake in the October 10 nationwide strike by Organised Labour.
Source: UGC
The strike is meant to protest against illegal mining, known as galamsey, and its devastating effects on the environment and human health.
The GMA, in a statement signed by Dr Frank Serebour, acknowledged the pressing issue of galamsey and the need to combat it collectively.
However, the statement noted that the association had not planned any roadmap for the industrial action and thus could not partake in the exercise.
Dr Vishnu’s petition, set to be addressed at the GMA’s annual general assembly meeting in Ho in November, alleged that Dr Serebour had acted unilaterally in issuing a statement withdrawing the association’s participation from the strike action, without the consent of the National Executive Council or the general assembly.
Dr Abayateye stressed that the action was an affront to Article 16 of the GMA constitution and did not reflect the views of the association’s broader membership.
According to the petitioner, Dr Serebour’s directive on the matter has brought the association into disrepute.
"The announcement made the association appear duplicitous in the eyes of well-meaning Ghanaians, especially given our previous positions on the health and environmental effects of illegal mining," he argued.
Organised labour set to strike
Organised Labour declared a nationwide strike from October 10, 2024, after an emergency meeting on October 1, 2024.
Members had expressed frustration at the government's 'inaction' on illegal mining despite the calls for urgent intervention.
It had previously set a deadline of September for the government to take decisive measures against illegal mining activities.
However, the government has yet to give a favourable response to the demands to end illegal mining.
In a statement, Organised Labour urged workers to stay home until the government meets its demands to take action on illegal mining.
Minerals Commission blames Police for galamsey
Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh has reported that the Minerals Commission has blamed the Ghana Police Service for the increase in galamsey in Ghana.
Commission boss Martin Ayisi said the police service had been inactive in the fight against illegal mining and urged officers to be more proactive.
Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh
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Source: YEN.com.gh
