Professor Kingsley Nyarko, the Deputy Minister of Education, has asked Organised Labour to consider dialogue instead of nationwide strike in getting the government to address illegal mining.
Dialogue, according to the Minister, will yield results compared to the strike the group has threatened.
Addressing a gathering at the Ghana Teacher Prize ceremony in Kumasi Thursday, October 03, 2024, Prof. Nyarko said taking an industrial action will not be the best means to get the illegal mining, also known as ‘galamsey’ resolved.
The Kwadaso Member of Parliament maintained that engaging in dialogue was going to proffer a lasting solution to the menace than embarking on a strike action.
He said the government has already put in measures in place to curb the menace and called on the media, chiefs, Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders to help address the canker.
“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,” he stated.
The planned nationwide strike, scheduled for October 10, was announced by Organised Labour in response to the government’s failure to declare a state of emergency over the galamsey menace.
Organised Labour argues that illegal mining has caused extensive damage to Ghana’s environment, particularly to water bodies and farmlands, and more decisive action is urgently needed.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister argued that whilst labour unions have a case for demanding for action over the menace, going on strike will not stop the problem.
He reiterated the need for a cooperative approach, involving the government, labour groups, and other key players, to develop a comprehensive plan to combat illegal mining and mitigate its harmful effects.
“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 stated.
We’ll lose our seats if we impose a ban on ‘galamsey’ – NPP MP
