UG-UTAG to embark on solo strike over galamsey, unfazed by ‘disorganised labour'
Accra, Ghana - October 9, 2024 - The University of Ghana chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UG-UTAG) has resolved to proceed with its planned strike, scheduled to begin on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
This decision comes despite Organised Labour's announcement to suspend its nationwide strike against the galamsey crisis.
Speaking to journalists, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, President of UG-UTAG stated that the association remains unconvinced by the government's efforts to combat illegal mining.
Prof. Gyampo expressed frustration, stating that UG-UTAG's views were suppressed during the decision-making process by Organised Labour.
“We even wanted to be allowed to say that if this is the route to go then let’s subject the government to strict deadline. They said they will not let us talk. in the meeting, I made my first point to others; a few people spoke and if you are speaking the chairman gets up and says he doesn’t want you to talk. We didn’t finish with the meeting before we realised they had called the media in.”
“So, the meeting did not end, and they got up to read the statement that had been prepared already for you…We are going to meet this evening. We had voted already. The 16 public universities had voted unanimously, overwhelmingly to say that they want to go on industrial action, and we don’t care about what ‘disorganised labour’ wants to do.
“We will be the conscience of Ghana. We will defend Ghanaians, and we will ensure that we defeat this fight, we will defeat this existential threat that confronts all of us. If Organised Labour will not want to do it, we will want to do it,” he stated.
Source: Lead News Online
