Strikes and Demonstrations will not solve galamsey - Deputy Education Minister tells Organised Labour

Accra, Ghana  - In a bid to prevent widespread disruption, the Ghanaian government is scrambling to address concerns over illegal mining, known as galamsey.

Deputy Education Minister Prof. Kingsley Nyarko has issued a passionate appeal to Organised Labour, urging them to reconsider their planned nationwide strike.

The strike, slated for October 10, is a response to the government's perceived inaction on declaring a state of emergency due to galamsey's catastrophic consequences.

Prof. Nyarko urged stakeholders to consider dialogue over industrial action while speaking at the Ghana Teacher Prize in Kumasi on October 3.

He emphasized that strikes aren't the most effective way to address concerns, instead advocating for collaborative problem-solving among all parties involved.

“Strikes and demonstrations are not necessarily the solutions in addressing issues or meeting the demands of individuals. That is not the best way to go,"he stated.

“For me, it’s more about dialogue, because the government and individuals are concerned about the activities of galamsey. The government has put in place interventions to deal with this issue.

“It demands collective efforts not only from the government but from other civil society and the media should be involved as well, chiefs, traditional leaders, the clergy and everybody must come on board for us to deal with it."

“I will plead with Organised Labour that instead of embarking on strike we don’t know when it will end, the best way is to keep engaging the authorities for us to come to a meaningful, progressive and productive solution to this particular problem. Industrial action will only lead to a reduction in productivity that will affect our revenue," he added.

President Akufo-Addo has also intervened, requesting additional time to tackle the issue. A crunch meeting between government representatives and labour leaders is scheduled for next week, aimed at finding common ground.

Source: Lead NewsOnline