President of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Professor Eric Abavare, has stated that the suspension of Organised Labour’s indefinite strike was the sole decision of the group’s leadership.
Prof. Abavare said the suspension does not reflect the views of the sister associations of the union.
He told Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show on Citi FM on Thursday that the leadership of Organised Labour came with an already written speech to a meeting on Wednesday that was supposed to discuss a final determination on the strike which was to commence today, Thursday, October 10.
Organised Labour suspended its intended strike, stating that the government agreed to take considerable steps, including ramping up the Operational Halt initiative, led by the Ghana Armed Forces, to combat illegal mining activities in forest reserves.
Prof Abavare indicated that UTAG decided to disassociate itself from Organised Labour to proceed with its indefinite strike after the announcement of the suspension.
He also reiterated the calls for the declaration of a state of emergency and a ban on all forms of mining and urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to heed to the demands.
“If we are going to have a meeting with them [Organised Labour] and you come with a prepared speech, it is the decision of Organised Labour to call off the strike and that is why we cut ties with Organised Labour
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, Akufo-Addo declared a state of emergency before Parliament approved and that is all that we are saying that the president must apply the same scenario here and declare a state of emergency and ban galamsey.
“Our demands were not met and the decision taken by the leadership of Organised Labour is different from UTAG and we don’t want to be part of that decision.”