Mr. Ansah-Asare urged labor leaders to carry out their planned protest and voiced dissatisfaction with the president’s handling of the galamsey situation.
President Akufo-Addo made an appeal to Organised Labour during a meeting on Thursday, October 3, asking them to reconsider the strike, which is set for October 10.
The president reassured the union leaders of his administration’s commitment to tackle the environmental harm caused by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The subject of the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, was the growing threat posed by illegal mining and the effects it is having on Ghana’s environment and natural resources.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized the efforts his government has made thus far in combating galamsey and urged Organised Labour to grant the government more time to address the problem.
Mr. Ansah-Asare, on the other hand, criticized the president’s handling of the issue, accusing him of not living up to his earlier pledge to address it with the gravity it requires.
He reminded Ghanaians of Akufo-Addo’s pledge to put his presidency on the line in the fight against galamsey, arguing that the president has not lived up to this commitment.
“On assumption of office, he said he would put his presidency on the line and said should he fail the galamsey fight, he would pay for it. We have asked him to apologise but he hasn’t apologised.”
“He has only eight weeks [to end his tenure] and by now, he should have allowed his vice, Dr. Bawumia to assume the reigns of government. He shouldn’t be asking organised labour to do anything.”
“He has not been sincere. You will not keep any promise that you give within the next eight weeks. So as far as I am concerned, organised labour should proceed with the timetable,” Mr. Ansah-Asare said.
