GPRTU issues strike notice for October 10; urges government to address labour issues

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has informed the Ghanaian public that it will support the nationwide strike action announced by Organised Labour.

The Union says it will not be working from October 10, 2024, in solidarity with the call on the government to take drastic action against illegal mining activities popularly known as galamsey.

A National Communications team member of the GPRTU, Samuel Amoah, said the galamsey menace is a national threat that must be dealt with immediately.

"It is true. Come October 10, we will support the nationwide strike action by organised labour. We are in full support of the strike action. If nothing changes and the government refuses to address the concerns raised, we will park our cars and join the strike action. We are key stakeholders, and most importantly, Ghanaians who are interested in national development. The galamsey menace is having a threat to our survival, and so we have communicated to all our members nationwide," he told Kwabena Agyapong on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM.

He asserted that the galamsey crisis is a national issue and every concerned citizen must support organised labour in demanding immediate action from the government.

He posited that we are at risk, and so sacrificing to park our cars and refuse to work will force the government to take action. We cannot sit unconcerned, and so we would support any initiative that seeks to protect our water bodies and forest reserves. Mining is good, but we want responsible and ethical mining. We want the licenses of all licensed miners breaching the law by engaging in illegal activities to be revoked. The government must remain proactive, agree with labour, and do what is needed to protect our forest reserves, water bodies, and human life.

He also shot down claims that the recent call against Galamsey was politically motivated and an attempt to make the current NPP government unpopular.

Samuel Amoah added that the galamsey fight should not be politicised since that would prevent us from dealing with the matter.