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Galamsey: We’ll proceed with nationwide strike – Organised Labour
Organised Labour has confirmed its decision to proceed with the nationwide strike planned for Thursday, October 10, 2024.
The group expressed dissatisfaction with President Akufo-Addo’s response to their demands, despite his reaffirmed commitment to addressing the illegal mining issue.
Organised Labour has been urging the president to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining and implement long-term solutions to combat the menace.
Speaking to the media on Monday, October 7, the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Joshua Ansah, reiterated the union’s determination to go ahead with the strike unless significant action is taken by the government before the ultimatum.
“We have concluded as follows; our strike remains unchanged,’ he stated.
He continued: “We are of the view that what the government has proposed does not adequately address our demands and therefore our notice of strike remains unchanged.”
Meanwhile, tensions have surfaced within Organised Labour as some factions, particularly from the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG) and other groups, claim they were not consulted before the announcement of the strike.
A faction, identifying themselves as “Concerned Members of Organised Labour,” has voiced opposition to how the strike decision was communicated. Although they support the fight against galamsey, they believe the leadership’s approach to declaring the strike was improper.
The group is calling on Organised Labour’s leadership to suspend the strike and engage in further dialogue with the government.
Dr. Solomon Fokuo, a member of TUTAG, expressed these concerns to journalists in Kumasi, emphasizing that if the leadership had shown the same level of commitment to addressing the welfare of their members, the situation could have been handled more effectively.
He said, “We are all against galamsey. We are against all those who are destroying our water bodies and the environment and we urge the government to use legal means to stop it to protect our environment but the major concern is what Organised Labour is talking about.”
“They have decided to declare a strike on October 10 but we were not consulted and we have not been involved and are not aware,” he said.
He added, “We have not been involved in any of the activities that they have been doing. We don’t know where they get their energy from and if they had used the same energy in fighting for our welfare, things would have been better.”
Source: Citinewsroom.com
News
The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has reiterated that its mandate is not to determine or appoint the country’s president.
During a live broadcast of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, EC Chairperson Madam Jean Mensa emphasised that the Commission’s sole responsibility is to declare the choice of the voters, not to influence the outcome.
She assured that the EC will uphold this stance in the upcoming 2024 general elections, reaffirming the Commission’s neutrality and dedication to fairness.
Madam Mensa also called on political parties to refrain from spreading misinformation about the EC’s role, urging them to be clear about the Commission’s limited authority in the election process.
“I would like to quote from Dr Hassan Ayariga’s statement where he said the EC can never make anybody a president, and I think that we all know that around this table. And therefore, we should not peddle misinformation,” she said.
She added, “And peddle false news and disinformation and give the innocent citizens who do not know the process that the Electoral Commission can make somebody a President. I would like to quote from Dr Hassan Ayariga’s statement that the EC can never make anybody a President.
“What the EC does is to declare who the voters choose as their President. And so, it’s the Ghanaian voter who votes a president into being and not the EC that makes a President. We only declare the voter’s choice. And that is what will happen come December 2024. It’s who the voter wants to be President of this land who will be declared by the EC,” she concluded.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
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Bawumia has good ideas and programmes for Ghana, not 24-Hour discos– Pres Akufo-Addo
The President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is confident that Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia remains best qualified on our political market to lead the country into the much desired fourth industrial revolution.
According to the President, who is currently on a two-day visit of the Northern, North East and Savanna regions, Dr. Bawumia has been well prepared, and he is now ready to become President.
Whilst asking for the support and effort of the Nayiri and the people of Mamprugu for their son, the Vice President, President Akufo-Addo said, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is a man of good ideas and good programmes for the country.
“He is not proposing 24-hour discotheques. He is the man best qualified to lead Ghana into the fourth industrial revolution. So I want us to work together make sure he becomes the next president of this country,” he said.
Establishing the premise of his remarks, President Akufo-Addo said he is asking for the support not just because he is a son of Mampruguland, but because, “Dr Bawumia is extremely competent, fit and able to be our next President.”
“I’ve worked with him for these past sixteen years and apart from being capable, competent and intellectually well-endowed, he is also a man of great loyalty, principled and honest. I am confident that if the people of Ghana agree with me and give him the chance, he will make an excellent President,” he added.
He was confident that if Ghanaians agree with him, and give Dr Bawumia the chance, “he will make an excellent President.”
Like all big Chiefs get concerned about matters relating to who succeeds them the person who will occupy your seat after you, the difference between us is that you will never know who will follow you, but in my case, I will know who will follow me.”
“Because you are a monarch and you will reign until you die, its only after your death that your successor is chosen, but I am a republican and democratic Chief, and I know who will succeed me. So I’ve come here to ask for your support to make sure that your son, my Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia succeeds me,” he ended.
