UTAG Ignores Organised Labour U-Turn, Declares Indefinite Strike Over Galamsey

• The University Teachers Association of Ghana is proceeding with its indefinite strike to force government action on illegal mining
• The union has instructed its members to adhere to the strike until the government formally meets its demands regarding galamsey
• Meanwhile, Organised Labour suspended its planned nationwide strike after an emergency meeting took place on October 9, 2024

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) is striking from today, October 10, 2024, despite Organised Labour's decision to suspend its planned strike to force government action on illegal mining, also known as galamsey.

In a referendum on October 9, the union voted to proceed with the strike across all 15 UTAG branches.

The union has instructed its members to adhere to the strike until the government formally announces a nationwide ban on all mining and prospecting activities.

Read also

Organised labour suspends nationwide strike meant to protest government inaction on galamsey

The President of the University of Ghana UTAG branch, Professor Ransford Gyampo, assured that the union would be resolute.

Why Organised Labour called off its strike

The decision to suspend the strike was made during an emergency meeting on October 9, 2024.

In a media briefing, Joshua Ansah, the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress, explained that the unions wanted to observe the government's implementation of measures to call off the strike.

President Nana Akufo-Addo directed the Minister for Defence to deploy additional military personnel to strengthen Operation Halt, the government's initiative to curb illegal mining.

The unions had threatened the strike if the government did not take action to combat illegal mining.

Organised labour wanted to compel the government to declare a state of emergency and ramp up efforts to address the environmental devastation caused by galamsey.

Read also

GMA president clarifies decision to abstain from Organised Labour's anti-galamsey strike

Some unions hesitant to strike

Some unions had backed away from the strike even before the official suspension. The Ghana Medical Association, for example, withdrew from the anti-galamsey strike.

Some dissenters within Organised Labour also opposed the union's decision to embark on an industrial action.

Some felt the call for a nationwide strike was politically motivated. These members even threatened to sue over the planned strike.

Amenfi East illegal miners storm assembly office

YEN.com.gh also reported that some illegal miners in Amenfi East stormed their assembly office in protest of the anti-galamsey strike by organised labour.

Videos showed scores of miners vowing not to stop illegal mining while some members of staff stopped working due to threats against the government.

Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh