President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has encouraged Organised Labour to move forward with their planned nationwide strike against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, despite President Akufo-Addo’s recent appeals for restraint.

Mr Cudjoe believes that the strike is a necessary response to the ongoing crisis surrounding illegal mining in Ghana.

In an interview with Citi FM on Saturday, October 5, Mr Cudjoe criticised President Akufo-Addo's handling of the galamsey situation, accusing him of both inaction and insincerity.

He expressed disappointment over the government's failure to take decisive measures to combat illegal mining, which has had devastating effects on the environment and local communities.

Mr Cudjoe highlighted that even during a recent programme organized by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), where multiple stakeholders called for the President to address the galamsey crisis, Akufo-Addo remained notably silent.

This lack of response, according to Cudjoe, illustrates the government's indifference to the pressing concerns surrounding illegal mining.

By urging Organised Labour to proceed with their strike, Cudjoe aligns himself with a growing sentiment among Ghanaians who are frustrated with the government's inaction on galamsey.

He believes that the public can only demand accountability and push for effective solutions to this ongoing issue through organised protest.

“If this president was serious and was really minded to deal with this matter, he would have done so long ago. Even as recent as two weeks ago when he sat through the GJA programme and the GJA president, as well as many others, called him out to end galamsey, this man looked in the eyes of everybody else and said nothing, absolutely nothing about galamsey.”

“He just read his speech and left the place. Then a few days later because organised labour is bent on going on this demonstration, all of a sudden he’s woken up. No! It just cannot be. I don’t think the president is serious any longer by the way. I am just waiting for him to leave office,” Mr Cudjoe stated.

In expressing his disappointment and frustration, Mr Cudjoe accused the President of disregarding public opinion and permitting the galamsey issue to escalate.

He urged Organised Labour to ignore the President’s recent remarks and proceed with their planned strike.

“I feel so disappointed and disgusted that this president will be disrespectful of people’s views and opinions as if we don’t even exist. I strongly believe the president has sat back and allowed this whole canker to fester and then because Organised Labour says we are going on strike all of a sudden he’s woken up."

“Nothing he writes, nothing he says is worth its salt. I think they should disregard him and go ahead,” he added.