Organised Labour has categorically dismissed allegations that money influenced the leadership to call off its intended strike in the fight against galamsey.
The President of the Coalition of Concern Teachers (CCT) and a key member of Organised Labour, King Ali Awudu said their decision was based on the tangible results of their negotiations.
The nationwide strike which was scheduled to start on October 10 was to protest the government’s perceived inaction in dealing with galamsey despite the devastation.
However, the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Joshua Ansah at a press conference on Wednesday communicated their decision to suspend the industrial action.
He explained that, the government following a meeting has started putting in place measures to tackle galamsey, hence their suspension.
This has fuelled widespread speculations that the labour union was financially induced to call off the strike.
However, Mr Awudu has fought off the claims.
Mr Awudu has said the allegations are baseless and unfounded, emphasising that the threats has pushed government to act to an extent.
“Whenever somebody is of a certain opinion, and another has a dissenting opinion the easy thing some people in this country would do is to accuse you of going to A or B. But mind you, so many organisations in this country have threatened to do certain things about galamsey but the government never mind them, including the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.
“Since December 2023, they have issued notices to the government to revoke the LI that allows mining in forest reserves, but the government has never minded them,” he said in an interview with Accra-based Citi News.
He pointed out that the government, within a month, is committed to revoking the Legislative Instrument (LI) that permits mining in forest reserves.
“Organised Labour comes in and in less than a month, the government has issued the directives for the LI to be revoked. This is what we want. It is being achieved. Why do we go on strike?” he asked.
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