The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is set to convene a high-level stakeholders’ meeting to develop an action plan aimed at compelling the government to take decisive measures against illegal mining, widely known as galamsey.

The Deputy Secretary-General of the TUC, Dr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, noted that the upcoming meeting will focus on concrete, independent actions by the TUC rather than broad Organised Labour interventions.

“...Somebody just mentioned NAIMOS and the Blue Water Guard; we never saw them. What we saw were excavators on the River Ayensu,” Dr Otoo said.

“To be straightforward with you, the TUC on this trip never announced any measures. The Secretary-General, in our press statement, indicated that after witnessing the situation, the structures of the TUC will meet in the coming weeks to decide on measures we must take as TUC, in collaboration with the government, to end illegal mining,” he said.

The move follows a recent nationwide tour by TUC officials to some water treatment plants and mining-endemic areas, where they observed firsthand the devastating effects of galamsey on water bodies and the environment.

Mr Otoo disclosed that this year’s approach would differ from last year’s planned industrial action by Organised Labour, which was eventually called off after government assurances.

He also expressed disappointment that successive governments have failed to honour promises made to Organised Labour and the public on tackling galamsey.

“It is now clear to everybody that those things we agreed with the government, the government did not keep its part of the bargain. The galamsey situation is getting out of hand,” he lamented.

He recalled that under the previous administration, the TUC suspended a planned strike after receiving assurances from the presidency that certain legal instruments, including L.I. 2462, would be suspended pending revocation by Parliament, and that security personnel had been deployed to protect water bodies and forest reserves.

“Those commitments were made in writing. We received a letter from the President himself on that day. So, if the new government came in with all the euphoria and promise, we expect continuity in implementing those commitments,” Dr Otoo stressed.