Government’s commitment to revoking the Legislative Instrument (LI) that allows mining in forest reserves and deployment of military forces to combat illegal mining together with other actions has avoided a nationwide strike proposed by Organised Labour.
In spite of these government actions, the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has broken away from Organised Labour’s stance – announcing its own nationwide strike, which took effect yesterday (October 10).
Indeed, UTAG’s decision to strike is based on overwhelming support from its members in the 15 public universities it represents.
Organised Labour had planned the October 10 strike over the illegal mining menace, but Secretary General-Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joshua Ansah, indicated that government’s enhanced measures to strengthen the fight against illegal mining led to softening their earlier stance.
Some argue that Organised Labour’s actions have already led to significant progress, compelling government to take concrete steps. Therefore, their decision to call off the strike was based on tangible results of their negotiations, not any form inducement as some are led to believe.
For instance, government has issued directives for the LI to be revoked – which is a major step toward combatting the menace that has assumed alarming proportions and rendered our water-bodies unsafe.
Coupled with the above, Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miner in partnership with the military has intensified efforts to combat illegal mining. The operation is being carried out under the enhanced ‘Operation Halt’ initiative.
The collaboration between the military and Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners is seen as a crucial step in curbing illegal mining.
Additionally, the Association of Small-Scale Miners has issued a warning to its members involved in illegal mining, urging them to stop.
The association is prepared to expose and take action against members engaging in such activities as part of their efforts to distance themselves from this destructive practice and support the fight against galamsey.
President Akufo-Addo’s directive for the Minister for Defence to deploy additional military forces to bolster ‘Operation Halt’ is aimed at curbing illegal mining in response to mounting pressure from civil society organisations calling on government to tackle the environmental devastation caused by galamsey.
Also, over 100 armed military personnel have been deployed to various water-bodies as part of a renewed effort to clamp down on illegal mining.
