Galamsey Crisis: GAWU directs members to strike from October 10

The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of the TUC-Ghana has announced plans for a nationwide strike.

The strike is set to begin on Thursday, October 10, 2024, in protest against the government's inaction on illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.

The union's decision comes after the government failed to address Organised Labour's demands for urgent intervention to tackle the environmental devastation caused by galamsey.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, GAWU confirmed the strike, stating that its resolve had been solidified after a meeting with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday, October 3, 2024.

Despite the President's efforts, he was unable to persuade Organised Labour to reconsider its plans, leading GAWU and other labour bodies to escalate their protest.

"We therefore call on management to support this cause, as all workers are directed to stay off work with effect from Thursday, 10 October 2024, until the government accedes to our demands," the union said in the statement.

GAWU’s strike forms part of a larger campaign by Organised Labour to pressure the government into declaring a state of emergency on galamsey, which has ravaged farmlands, polluted water bodies, and devastated communities across Ghana.

The strike is expected to disrupt multiple sectors, with workers refusing to return until concrete steps are taken to address the galamsey issue.

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