Some concerned non-partisan members of Organised Labour have expressed their dismay over recent actions and statements by the leadership, regarding the proposed nationwide strike and demonstration scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2024.
The proposed strike action is aimed at coercing the government to declare a “State of Emergency” over the menace of illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey” in the local parlance.
But the group, at a press conference held in Kumasi yesterday, however, acknowledged the seriousness of the galamsey issue and its devastating impact on the environment and economy, but disagreed with the approach.
The group, believe the current approach by their leadership is misguided, politically motivated and does not represent the views of the majority of the membership of Organised Labour.
Dr. Solomon Forkuo, on behalf of the group, disclosed that the leadership of Organised Labour has failed to consult the broader membership of the organisation before issuing a threat of a nationwide strike and demonstration.
The Spokesperson explained that the group feel sidelined and believe that the leadership is taking undue advantage of their positions to advance their own political interests, stressing that “The decision to strike or embark on a demonstration should be one that reflects the collective will of the membership, not the political ambitions of a few”.
Dr. Forkuo further said it was unconscionable that leadership was attempting to push this agenda at a time when the country was barely two months away from crucial presidential and parliamentary elections.
The group queried the leadership of Organised Labour for not proffering a pragmatic solution to the galamsey menace, which the Government had deliberately refused to implement to justify their anger and call for nationwide strike and demonstration to enforce its implementation.
“We only see a hollow demand on the Government to stop galamsey by calling for a state of emergency”, Dr. Forkuo emphasised.
According to him, such knee-jerk actions could easily lead to chaos, unrest and contribute to a further deterioration of the political climate, which is already tense and suggested that the “galamsey problem” is a national issue that requires a united and non-partisan front to resolve.
Dr. Forkuo called on the Leadership of Organised Labour to suspend any plans for a nationwide strike and engage in genuine dialogue with the government on the galamsey issue, using appropriate non-partisan channels.
He called on the leadership to respect the views of the broader membership, desist from politicizing national issues, uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in all decision-making processes and also engage with various political parties.
Dr. Solomon Forkuo further urged the leadership to reconsider their current path and to recognize that galamsey was a problem that required national unity, not a political division.
He further issued a 48-hour ultimatum to hear from their leadership or risk secession from the organization just as the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) seceded from the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT)”.
From Oswald Pius Freiku, Kumasi
