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The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has announced that it will call off its nationwide strike by October 29, 2024. This strike, which disrupted activities in public universities, has been ongoing for weeks.
According to a report by TV3 News, the strike started on October 10, 2024, after UTAG expressed frustration over the government’s slow response to the issue of illegal mining, commonly known as ‘galamsey.’
Galamsey has been causing serious environmental damage in Ghana, and many people have described it as a major threat to the country's future.
UTAG had initially planned to join a larger strike organized by Labour unions, but when some Labour leaders backed out, UTAG decided to continue with their protest.
Along with the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey and other organizations, UTAG called for a halt to all forms of small-scale mining and demanded the government declare a state of emergency on the illegal mining problem.
Some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which is the ruling party, have expressed concerns that if the government imposes a ban on small-scale mining, they could lose their seats in Parliament.
This political pressure, combined with the government's repeated decision to send the military to protect forests and rivers, has not been enough to convince UTAG that the illegal mining problem is being effectively handled.
Some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which is the ruling party, have expressed concerns that if the government imposes a ban on small-scale mining, they could lose their seats in Parliament.
This political pressure, combined with the government's repeated decision to send the military to protect forests and rivers, has not been enough to convince UTAG that the illegal mining problem is being effectively handled.
In its statement, the NEC urged UTAG members to return to the classroom. It is expected that students in public universities will resume their academic activities on November 1, 2024.
