Galamsey: UTAG to vote on whether not to proceed with a nationwide strike

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has reaffirmed its call for a nationwide ban on all forms of mining and prospecting for gold and other minerals within forest reserves, farms, and river bodies.

The Association said it has instructed all member campuses to prepare for voting on whether to proceed with a nationwide industrial strike due to the government’s failure to respond to both UTAG’s and Organized Labour’s calls for decisive action on the ban.

“UTAG also strongly opposed recent statements from the President of the National House of Chiefs and other political actors who argued against the ban.

“UTAG emphasized that such a ban is essential for safeguarding Ghana’s environment and natural resources while sustainable solutions for responsible mining are developed,” a communique issued after the fourth quarter meeting for 2024 at the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) said. The meeting was to discuss various critical concerns of members, organised by the National Executive Council.

Several calls have been made to President Akufo-Addo to stop galamsey. For instance, The National Executive and, indeed, the entire membership of the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) that added its voice to the call on the government by Organized Labour and other civil society organizations for the immediate ban on Galamsey. stated that as a union of traders in the country with interest in driving economic development and sustainability in Ghana, they felt it a duty as well as a shared responsibility to also ensure that the natural resources of the country are judiciously used and preserved for future generations to also benefit.

From the recent discourse that has taken over the media landscape, GUTA said, it is a very clear indication that enough is enough for galamsay in this country.

Although small scale mining has been going on for decades, it is now apparently clear that the country has come to a tipping point. The influx of foreign entities, especially, the Chinese with their heavy machinery have degraded the sector for the worse, a statement issued said.

“We are of the strong view that if nothing is done urgently about the situation, the country may not be able to recover from the devastating effect of illegal mining. In this regard, GUTA calls on the President of the Republic to declare a state of emergency on the matter as soon as possible to ensure that every resource is given the needed attention and direct the fight for complete eradication of the scourge.

“It is our fervent hope that the President would heed to the numerous calls and act decisively to end the menace before his tenure of office ends which would be a great legacy for him,” GUTA said in a statement.

Source:3news.com