Organised Labour to lay down tools over galamsey, effective October 10

Organised Labour has announced a nationwide strike starting October 10, 2024, in response to the government’s failure to address their demands regarding illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

The decision was made during an emergency meeting on Tuesday, October 1, where labour leaders expressed frustration over the government’s inaction on the issue.

Organised Labour had previously set a deadline, the end of September, for the government to take decisive measures against galamsey, which they argue is causing severe harm to the environment and negatively impacting the livelihoods of many Ghanaians.

In a joint statement, Joshua Ansah, Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Isaac Bampoe Addo, Chairman of the Forum, and Kenneth Koomson, Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Federation of Labour, declared, “Following the expiration of our deadline and the failure of the government to meet our demands on illegal mining, Organised Labour has decided to declare a nationwide strike with effect from October 10, 2024.”

The leaders called on all workers across the country to stay home starting Thursday, October 10, to pressurise the government into taking immediate action.

The strike is anticipated to disrupt access to essential public services.