The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has announced that its members will not take part in the nationwide strike called by the Organised Labour in protest against illegal mining (galamsey).
In a statement released on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, the GMA President, Dr.
Frank Celebour, however expressed the association’s support for the cause and called on all GMA members to continue providing all services in health facilities across the country.
The union has scheduled a nationwide strike against illegal mining for October 10, 2024.
Why are unions going on strike?
Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joshua Ansah, has announced that the planned strike will go ahead as scheduled.
He said this following an appeal to the association to reconsider its position as the government takes measures to counter this threat.
At a press conference on Monday, October 7, 2024, the Organized Labor Party said it would continue its nationwide strike unless the government takes decisive action.
“We have come to the following conclusion: , our strike will not be changed.
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We believe that the government’s proposals do not adequately address our demands and therefore our strike notice will not be changed,” he explained.
Organized labor’s demands include the declaration of a state of emergency for all forms of small-scale mining, the implementation of stricter regulatory measures to protect water, and the repeal of L.I.
2462, which would allow mining in forest reserves.
The union argues that the current law is insufficient and that the government needs to take a more proactive stance to ensure compliance with the law and protect the country’s natural resources.
“The president has shown some commitment but we need more than mere promises.
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We must act and our position will not change until we see concrete steps.
We cannot sit idly by while our environment is destroyed and we will not compromise on the future of our natural resources,” Ansah said.
The decision came after a meeting with President Akufo-Addo where the government reiterated its determination to fight illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, and also sought more time to tackle the issue.
But union leaders argue the promised measures are not enough to address the crisis and the concerns expressed more broadly.
Meanwhile, a faction calling itself Concerned Members of Organised Labour has called on the leadership to reconsider its position and is calling for further dialogue with the government.
They feel that pausing the strike to allow for more genuine negotiations would result in better outcomes for both the environment and the well-being of labor members.
They claim that a more inclusive strategy would increase the movement’s unity and ensure that all opinions are heard.
