The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has set a deadline for the government, threatening a nationwide strike by the end of September 2024 if a total ban on illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey,” is not enacted.
In a forceful statement, UTAG condemned the government’s current efforts to tackle illegal mining, branding them as “failed and corruption-ridden militarized attempts.”
UTAG highlighted the severe consequences of illegal mining, including the devastation of over 2.5 million hectares of forest, a 35% rise in respiratory diseases in affected areas, and an annual economic toll of $2.3 billion.
The Association warned that if the situation does not improve, Ghana may need to import drinking water within six years, emphasizing the critical nature of the issue.
Illegal mining has already led to a 45% decline in cocoa productivity this year, and the Ghana Health Service has reported a significant increase in respiratory illnesses due to harmful chemicals like mercury, arsenic, and lead contaminating local water and soil.
UTAG is rallying all Ghanaians to support its call for a complete ban on all forms of small-scale mining, criticizing past government initiatives, such as Operation Vanguard and Operation Flashout, as “monumental failures.”
The Association urged national unity to protect remaining resources, secure the future of the youth, and pursue sustainable development. UTAG also stated its readiness to use “every constitutionally available tool” to ensure compliance, including potential collaborations with other labor unions for decisive action.
Without decisive government action by the end of September, UTAG has warned of a nationwide industrial strike, emphasizing the urgency with the rallying cry to #BANgalamsey and “ban it for good.”
