Nationwide strike against galamsey will proceed despite Akufo-Addo’s plea – GNAT

The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Musah, has assured Organised Labour, particularly GNAT’s resolve to ensure their intended strike action against illegal and irresponsible mining comes off on October 10 as declared.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Citi News‘ Jude Duncan in Accra on Friday, Musah explained that the decision to embark on the strike action and protest is in spite of Organised Labour’s recent meeting with the President.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in a meeting with the leadership of Organised Labour on Thursday, 3rd October, pleaded with Organised Labour to be patient with his Government as they work to find a lasting solution to the menace.

Organised Labour wants the government to declare a state of emergency in all mining areas, revoke the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) regulations 2022, withdraw all licenses that had been granted for prospecting of mining in forest reserves and protected areas, and set up special courts to prosecute perpetrators of galamsey.

Musah, who was not at the meeting, explained that collectively as a group, they still stand by their previous demands on the issue of illegal mining.

“What’s the definition of more time, with the people dying, what will happen to them? It is for us to make a decision, it is between life and death.”

“Organised Labour, we have all agreed and that is what GNAT is standing by, we agree that there should be a state of emergency on illegal mining. [We still stand by] the decision of Organised Labour on the protest,” he said.