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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
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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