A section of lecturers and professors, all members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), have called on the National Executive Council (NEC) to immediately put an end to the ongoing strike related to the galamsey issue.
This group, known as the Silent Majority of UTAG, held a press conference on October 15, 2024, at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra. They expressed concerns that the NEC’s decision to prioritize a cause outside of its core academic mandate, particularly at the expense of students, should be reversed without delay.
They also urged UTAG to form a committee tasked with monitoring the government’s implementation of its anti-galamsey strategies. Additionally, they suggested UTAG take a proactive role in encouraging all Presidential and Parliamentary candidates in mining constituencies to publicly endorse efforts to address illegal mining in the country.
During the press briefing, Professor Isaac Boadi, Dean of Accounting and Finance at the University for Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), stated:
“On October 2, 2024, UTAG’s National Leadership requested all campuses to vote on the motion: ‘Should the NEC of UTAG declare an industrial action in support of the nationwide ban on mining and prospecting for gold and other minerals in forest reserves, farms, and rivers?’”
This motion was put forward to campuses with a deadline of October 8, 2024, so that NEC could decide on whether to join Organized Labour’s nationwide strike scheduled for October 10. Professor Boadi noted that the overwhelming vote in favor of the strike by UTAG members was in direct support of Organized Labour’s stand against mining in protected areas.
However, following Organized Labour’s suspension of their strike after discussions with the government, Professor Boadi stressed that UTAG’s participation in the industrial action had effectively reached its end. He emphasized that continuing the strike without revisiting members’ consensus goes beyond the mandate originally given to the NEC.
The group criticized the NEC’s unilateral decision to declare an indefinite strike and argued that the matter should have been referred back to the membership for further consideration.
They called on UTAG’s NEC to focus its efforts on ensuring that the government implements the agreed roadmap to address illegal mining. “We believe that instead of prolonging the strike, the NEC should prioritize holding the government accountable for delivering on its promises. This approach will be more productive and aligned with the union’s responsibility to its members.”
In their statement, the Silent Majority listed specific demands for the National Leadership of UTAG to address by October 18, 2024:
1. Call off the strike immediately.
2. Establish a monitoring team to oversee the government’s progress in tackling galamsey.
3. Take the lead in engaging Presidential and Parliamentary candidates to publicly declare their commitment to the fight against illegal mining.
The group clarified that their intention was not to undermine the leadership but to ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of the association and the nation. They reiterated their commitment to working towards a resolution that benefits all members and maintains unity within the union.
The statement concluded with a call for national unity in addressing the galamsey menace, urging media outlets, political candidates, traditional authorities, mining communities, security forces, and the general public to unite in the fight against illegal mining.
Among the UTAG members advocating for these changes are Ophelia Philomena Aovare, Graham Billa, and Amatus Dinye from CK Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences; Dr. Justice Kwaku Addo, Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng, and others from UCC; and Prof. Eddie Appiah, Dr. Michael Nimoh, and Dr. Hubert Bimpeh Asiedu from KNUST, among many others across several universities.
Credit: PeaceFm
