The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has reiterated its intention to proceed with its planned nationwide strike, effective October 10, if the government fails to respond positively to its demands.

The union has called on the government to ban all forms of mining activities in forest reserves across the country, but so far, the government has not acted on this request.

At an emergency meeting on Tuesday, October 1, Organised labour expressed frustration with the government's inaction, especially after setting a September deadline for decisive measures to be taken against illegal mining (Galamsey), which they argue is destroying the environment and the livelihoods of many Ghanaians.

As a result, the group declared a nationwide strike effective October 10 in protest against galamsey, warning that the economic consequences could be severe.

• Read also: Galamsey: Organised labour declares strike Oct. 10 after expiration of gov’t ultimatum

Speaking to JoyNews, the Secretary-General of the TUC, Joshua Ansah, stated that the committee established to address the issue has been unresponsive to their demands.

He outlined the union’s petition to the president, which included three key demands: declaring a state of emergency, revoking Legislative Instrument 2462, and deploying the police and military to forest reserves and river bodies where illegal mining is rampant.

“On the 17th when we met, the Ministerial Committee listened to us and told us that we should give them a week for them to do further consultation with civil societies and all others who have also complained about the galamsey menace.

“We were waiting for something from the Ministerial Committee which never came so yesterday [Tuesday] we met and our decision was that if by 10 of October the government doesn’t do anything positive about our demand, we will embark on indefinite strike,” he said.

The government’s response to these demands could have significant implications for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the general elections approach in two months.

However, Mr Ansah said that the TUC’s stance is driven solely by the need to protect the environment.

“People are politicising the galamsey issue. I think that Organised Labour is coming clean with a good decision that this is a nationwide issue, it is affecting everybody in the country and we should stop politicising this issue.

“All that Organised Labour is calling on the government to do is to ensure that all political parties, be it NPP, NDC whatever, you come and sign a pact on their position on this menace that is killing this very country. When that is done and you go out there politicising it, people will see how hypocritical you are and they will not mind you,” he added.