President of the KNUST chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Professor Eric Abavare, is demanding that the President and government give instructions and not mere enforcement to halt illegal mining activities in the country.

Government is embarking on a renewed fight to clamp down on illegal mining activities on river bodies under the “Operation Halt” initiative.

However, Professor Abavare together with some members of the association observe the renewed efforts could be one of the usual pretentious efforts to end the menace.

Speaking on Luv FM, he likened the situation to the government’s responsiveness during the management of the COVID-19 pandemic and insisted that the President must personally call for a stop to illegal mining.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the President stood at the Jubilee house and gave either instruction or directive that Greater Kumasi should be locked down. As soon as that statement was made by the President the next day, we saw the lockdown and the police, military and other security agencies on the road to ensure the enforcement. If that statement hadn’t been made by the President, do you think the police would have had a business going to be on the streets?” he said.

Professor Abavare explains the president has the power to ban the importation of some mining equipment.

“The basis of our strike is that we want the government to give instructions to say I do not want to see any earth-moving equipment on our road, no changfan imported, it would happen. If the instruction had been made that we don’t want them in the country, they wouldn’t even enter our ports,” he added.

In the last few weeks, organized labour together with some other civil organisations have demanded that the government acts proactively to militate against the illicit mining which is destroying water bodies and arable farmlands.

Organised labour threatened a nationwide strike if the government failed to act.

But after negotiations with the government a day to its intended strike on October 10, 2024, the union suspended the industrial action claiming to have assurances from the government to strengthen its fight against the menace.

Some members of the union, including UTAG, were unhappy with the decision and defied organized labour’s stance to declare a nationwide strike.

President of the Appiah Menka University chapter of UTAG, Professor Yarhands Dissou Arthur says the organized labour must render an apology to its members for their surprising U-turn in the fight against galamsey.

“Organised labour has lost credibility to the members. The leadership of organized labour should come and apologise to the members they lead because they have disappointed them,” he said.

Prof. Dissou Arthur is convinced their ongoing strike would hold the government accountable in the fight against galamsey.

“UTAG strike is actually going to hold on the government to go according to the plan they have put out there. When other labour unions are now relaxing, nothing will happen. Because the government has succeeded in dividing their front. The government must bring a name and shame policy,” he said