The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has reiterated its commitment to embark on industrial action if the government fails to declare a state of emergency over the country's deteriorating water bodies due to illegal mining widely known as galamsey.

UTAG’s National President, Prof. Mamudu A. Akudugu, expressed this strong stance ahead of a scheduled meeting with the government on Tuesday, October 1, adding that the association is prepared to take decisive action if no concrete steps are taken.

He also indicated that UTAG is not alone in this fight, adding that organized labor would likely follow suit if the government fails to act swiftly.

In an interview on Joy FM’s Newsnight on Monday, September 30, Prof. Akudugu noted that UTAG would not waver in its decision, insisting that their demands for immediate government intervention must be met.

"Our demands should be met – that’s our position. In our release, we were very clear as to what we will do when our demands were not met – thus, embark on an industrial action. We still stand by that," he asserted.

Read also: UTAG threatens strike over illegal mining by end of September

UTAG has been advocating for the government to declare a state of emergency to address the severe environmental damage caused by galamsey, which has resulted in the pollution of major water bodies across the country.

They issued an ultimatum to government, threatening a nationwide strike by the end of September 2024 if a total ban on illegal mining is not imposed.

In a strongly worded statement, UTAG criticised state-led efforts to combat illegal mining, or “galamsey,” describing them as “failed and corruption-infested militarized battles.”

The Association lamented the severe damage caused by illegal mining activities, including the destruction of over 2.5 million hectares of forest cover, a 35% rise in respiratory diseases in mining areas, and a projected cost of $2.3 billion annually to the economy.

Read also: UTAG calls for immediate nationwide ban on mining

Additionally, Prof. Akudugu called on the two main political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to sign a binding pact committing to combatting galamsey ruthlessly.

"This is something that should be immediate for them to do," he said, stressing that UTAG would determine its next course of action based on the government's response to these demands.