The University Teachers Association of Ghana’s (UTAG) National Executive Committee (NEC) is set to meet tonight to deliberate on its next course of action, despite Organised Labour’s decision to call off the planned strike action against illegal mining, which was scheduled for October 10.
Prof. Ransford Gyampo, President of the University of Ghana (UG) Chapter of UTAG, made this known in a statement released today.
“UTAG NEC meets over this tonight, and given the overwhelming support we have given to the fight against illegal mining via the voting outcomes of the public universities across the country, let us brace ourselves to be the only conscience of the nation in the fight against the existential threat that confronts all of us.”
He criticised the leadership of Organised Labour for softening its stance on the industrial action, describing their decision to suspend the strike as premature and disappointing.
“We were called to a meeting to get a briefing about some new proposals government had made in response to our demand that illegal mining be addressed,” Gyampo state.
The lecturer detailed some developments that ensued at the meeting held today to address new government proposals on illegal mining.
Prof Gyampo revealed that the Secretary General of Trades Union Congress (TUC), Joshua Ansah and Executive Secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG), Dr. Isaac Bampoe-Addo arrived with a pre-written speech calling for the suspension of the planned strike.
This move sparked controversy as Prof. Gyampo and other attendees questioned the appropriateness of their actions.
Although the two leaders apologised after being confronted, per Prof Gyampo’s account, tensions escalated when they presented the government’s supposed new interventions.
However, Prof. Gyampo noted that these proposals were not significantly different from those discussed and rejected earlier on October 7.
He and others present suggested that the government should at least impose a temporary moratorium on mining to facilitate discussions on the practicalities of the proposals. This suggestion, according to Prof. Gyampo, was ignored.
“The leadership of Organized Labour refused to listen,” he lamented, adding that before any further suggestions could be made, the media was called in, and the pre-prepared speech was read to them. “The meeting was rancorous and acrimonious. It ended in disunity,” he stated.
Prof. Gyampo also hinted at the division within the ranks of Organised Labour, adding that the UTAG National Executive Committee (NEC) was set to meet later that night to discuss the situation.
“The leadership of Organized Labour refused to listen,” Gyampo said, adding that the meeting ended in disunity after the media were called in and the pre-prepared speech was read.
Despite this setback, Prof. Gyampo reaffirmed UTAG’s commitment to the fight against illegal mining, or galamsey, stating that the NEC would meet tonight to decide on the way forward.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
