The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has expressed its support for Organised Labour’s decision to initiate a nationwide strike over illegal mining in the country. 

On Monday, October 7, 2024, Organised Labour reaffirmed its intention to proceed with the industrial action, despite President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s appeal for additional time to tackle the environmental devastation caused by the issue. 

Organised Labour has asked the government to declare a State of Emergency to address illegal mining in the country. 

A statement released on Monday by the PPP’s presidential candidate, Mr. Kofi Asamoah-Siaw, affirmed the party’s support for Labour’s decision to move forward with its planned strike. 

“We consider galamsey as the single most existential threat to the Republic of Ghana. 

“The galamseyers are engaged in a biological warfare against the State of Ghana, and their use of mercury and other heavy-metal pollutants constitute a deployment of weapons of mass destruction against the nation-state and its people,” the party said. 

The statement also urged Organised Labour to disregard the President’s calls for more time to address the issue, emphasizing that he has failed to tackle the problem for nearly eight years. 

“His calls are only directed at getting more time for his party members to continue to perpetuate this and other heinous crimes against the people,” it added. 

The statement noted that the PPP was proud of the actions taken by the Trades Union Congress and Organised Labour to stand up against what it described as “state capture and state-sponsored terrorism by a group of selfish, greedy, and unpatriotic Ghanaians.” 

It further explained that the PPP’s 10-Point Agenda, which included Free Compulsory Continuous Universal Education from Kindergarten to Senior High School and job creation for the youth, was essential for reducing the influx of new labour into galamsey and providing alternative job opportunities for the high number of unemployed youths. 

“We need leadership at this critical time, and the PPP is wide awake to the leadership challenge and is fully prepared to lead Ghana away from this path of self-destruction,” the statement indicated. 

“I fully pledge, on my honour, and in the name of God and Country, to sign unconditionally and without hesitation the Anti-Galamsey Declaration sponsored by the TUC,” it added.