Organised Labour has called off the nationwide strike that was scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2024, in protest against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. This decision follows the government’s introduction of enhanced and time-bound measures that meet the demands of the labour unions to address the illegal mining crisis.
The suspension was announced by the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joshua Ansah, during a press conference on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. Ansah described the government’s concessions as “significant” and assured that Organised Labour would closely monitor the implementation of these measures. He warned that if the government fails to act as promised, labour unions would take further action.
The breakthrough came after a meeting on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, between government representatives, leaders of Organised Labour, and the Ghana Employers Association. Organised Labour had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s initial efforts and had threatened to proceed with the strike.
Key measures that led to the suspension include the revocation of the 2023 Regulation on mining in forest reserves (L.I. 2642) and a presidential directive for the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to submit a memorandum to Parliament for the revocation of the law when it reconvenes on October 15, 2024. Additionally, the government has committed to redeploying the military and other law enforcement agencies to combat illegal mining in water bodies and forest reserves.
Before the suspension, Organised Labour had been pushing for decisive government action, including a state of emergency on small-scale mining and stronger regulatory measures to protect water bodies. The unions argued that the existing laws were inadequate in safeguarding the country’s natural resources.
However, the strike call had not been universally supported. The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) both announced they would not participate in the strike, despite voicing support for the anti-galamsey cause.