There is deepening division within the labour front as some concerned members of Organized Labour reject calls for an industrial action against illegal mining widely known as galamsey.

The call for industrial action was made by leadership of labour union, who argued that the government's failure to declare a state of emergency on galamsey is a threat to the livelihoods of Ghanaians.

Despite its engagement with government, Organized Labour is set to embark on a nationwide strike on October 10.

However, some members of labour union have rejected the call, saying that it was not the right approach to addressing the issue of galamsey, stressing that “you don’t use wrong to correct wrong.”

• Read also: Galamsey: Organised labour to proceed on Oct. 10 strike as gov’t fails to meet demands

“Our views have not been taken. It’s just a few people at the top and they know what they have been taking. They can’t make decisions for some of us. We are in academia – we are teaching and you just get up there and make a decision that you alone are declaring a strike. You are declaring strike for what?” Dr Solomon Forkuo, Member, UTAG and Spokesperson fumed.

He added that although not against the action, it is right to be taken for granted because they were not consulted.

The concerned members of Organized Labour in the Ashanti Region give leadership 48-hour ultimatum to engage members before they comply with the directive. 

“They should cancel whatever they have issued first and come back and take our views. Our views may help solve this problem once and for all,” the members indicated.

“They should come back and sit with us, you cannot just declare it before you even come to talk to us

“If we all agree that that is the way to go, that’s fine,” another member stated.

They further questioned the alternatives the leadership has given to the government to halt the menace.

Read also: We need restoration of water bodies, ban galamsey – Austin Gamey tells gov’t