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. The strike, which has disrupted academic activities across public universities, was initiated on October 10, 2024, in protest of the government’s insufficient action against illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”
UTAG had initially joined a planned strike by Organised Labour but continued with the industrial action after the broader labour group pulled out. UTAG, alongside the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey and other groups, demanded that the government impose a suspension on all forms of small-scale mining and declare a state of emergency to address the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining activities.
Despite government proposals to deploy military personnel to affected areas, UTAG criticized these measures as insufficient to combat the menace. The NEC, however, has now urged its members to return to the classroom, signaling an end to the strike. Students in tertiary institutions are expected to resume classes on November 1, 2024.
The decision comes as pressure mounts on the government to address the devastating impact of illegal mining on Ghana’s environment, with concerns that it poses an existential threat to the country.