Award-winning journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has called on Organised Labour to proceed with their planned strike on October 10, 2024, to protest the government's inaction on illegal mining, known locally as galamsey.

Awuni, in an open letter, urged the union to move beyond political considerations and take decisive action to protect Ghana's environment and water bodies.

His letter follows the union’s threat to strike on October 10, should the government fail to tackle the galamsey menace and their subsequent meeting with President Akufo-Addo on their planned industrial action.The President is reported to have pleaded with the union leaders to call off their intended strike as government takes steps to address their concerns.

However, highlighting the political implications of this crisis, Awuni noted that the government might be reluctant to act due to fears of losing votes, particularly as Ghana approaches a crucial election year.

He explained, “The government values the votes of illegal miners more than the lives they are destroying by polluting water bodies, depleting forest reserves, and erasing farmlands from the surface of the earth.”

Despite the political risks, he urged the labour unions to act, stating, “Politics should not stop you from doing what is right.” He drew a parallel between current events and past political agitations, recalling when labour unrest in the Mahama era prompted the former president to declare himself a “dead goat,” a phrase that later became a campaign slogan for the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2016 election.

The illegal mining problem, according to Awuni, did not begin with the Akufo-Addo administration, but the government has failed to resolve the issue effectively since taking office in 2017. He criticized both the current and previous administrations, stating that while the NDC under John Mahama failed to combat galamsey, the Akufo-Addo administration worsened the situation by legalising certain mining activities that led to further environmental degradation.

Awuni’s letter was not just a critique of political leadership but also a rallying cry for Organised Labour to remain focused on addressing the galamsey threat, even in the face of political pressure. He urged the unions to continue their strike if the government fails to address the issue, warning that history would not judge them kindly if they let the opportunity pass.

"The most essential point to consider if you're worried about the political implications of your action should be this: the illegal mining menace did not begin in the election year of 2024," he wrote. He reminded the unions that agitations as far back as 2017 had already raised alarms about the galamsey crisis, and failure to act now would only perpetuate the destruction of the country’s natural resources.

Awuni concluded with a strong message to the union, emphasising the gravity of their decision. “You have a unique opportunity to bring some semblance of sanity back to a nation ruined by greed and stupidity,” he wrote. He implored the unions to stand firm, stating that Ghanaians were counting on them as the last line of defence against environmental destruction and political inaction.

The illegal mining crisis remains one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental issues, with significant implications for water security, agricultural productivity, and public health.