\n
\u00a0The University Teachers As\u00adsociation of Ghana (UTAG) yesterday started an indefinite strike across its 15 branches nationwide to protest against illegal mining popularly called galamsey.<\/p>\n
UTAG members are expected to remain on strike until the government announces a nationwide ban on all mining and prospecting activities in protected areas, including forest reserves, farmlands, and water bodies.<\/p>\n
The industrial action kicked in despite Organised Labour\u2019s last minute decision to suspend its October 10 planned strike following the government\u2019s pledge to address the issue.<\/p>\n
In a referendum on Wednesday, UTAG members overwhelmingly voted in support of the motion to strike, with 2,153 members representing 77.95 per cent, voting in favour of the motion, 607 representing 21.98 per cent voting against it, and two persons representing 0.07 per cent abstaining from the votes.<\/p>\n
A press statement issued in Accra signed by the UTAG National President, Professor Mamudu A. Akudugu, in\u00adstructed members to adhere to the strike action until the government addresses the Association\u2019s demands.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis decisive outcome (of the refer\u00adendum) reflects the unwavering commit\u00adment of UTAG members to protect our environment and livelihoods from the destructive impact of mining activities in ecologically sensitive areas such as forest reserves, farms and water bodies,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
It said following the referendum, the UTAG NEC convened an emergency meeting, to invoke Article XIX, Clause five of the UTAG Constitution to embark on the industrial action.<\/p>\n
UTAG\u2019s bold move aims to pressure the government to take decisive action against galamsey, which has devastated Ghana\u2019s water bodies and forests, the statement said.<\/p>\n
It would be recalled that on October 1, organised labour declared a nation\u00adwide strike with effect from October 10, following the failure of government to address their demands to halt illegal min\u00ading in and around river bodies and forest reserves.<\/p>\n
In a dramatic turn of events, the Or\u00adganised Labour suspended its indefinite nationwide strike aimed to compel the government, to, among other demands, declare a state of emergency on galamsey<\/p>\n
The decision followed a meeting be\u00adtween organised labour and the govern\u00adment, during which President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo offered enhanced measures to boost the fight against the menace.<\/p>\n
The Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joshua Ansah, who announced the decision said the government\u2019s measures which formed the basis for the decision, would be keenly monitored.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government will hear from us if it fails to do the needful,\u201d he announced.<\/p>\n
The intensified measures the govern\u00adment is rolling out include deployment of more military officers and including of Small Scale Miners Association, to boost \u201cOperation Halt\u201d aimed at curbing galamsey.<\/p>\n
More dedicated courts would be established to handle illegal mining and the immediate suspension and subsequent revocation of the En\u00acvironment Protec\u00adtion (Mining on forest reserves) Regula\u00adtions, 2022 (L.I 2462).<\/p>\n
\u00a0BY TIMES REPORTER<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0The University Teachers As\u00adsociation of Ghana (UTAG) yesterday started an indefinite strike across its 15 branches nationwide to protest against illegal mining popularly called galamsey. UTAG members are expected to remain on strike until the government announces a nationwide ban on all mining and prospecting activities in protected areas, including forest reserves, farmlands, and water […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":229964,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-229963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n
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