Labour Strike: Doctor Petitions GMA to Remove President

A medical doctor has moved a motion for the removal of the President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr. Frank Serebour, after he allegedly single-handedly took an official stance against Organised Labour’s strike action over illegal mining.

Dr. Vishnu Nene Limon Abayateye in a petition addressed to the General Secretary invoked article 23 of the GMA constitution and has committed to mobilizing the required two-thirds of the general assembly to take him out at their next general meeting scheduled to take place from November 3 to 10.

“Unilaterally issuing a statement without recourse to the national executive council or the general assembly, in announcing the non-participation of the association in organized labour’s strike against illegal mining and its devastating health and environmental effects,” he said, adding that it’s in contravention of article 16 of the GMA constitution.

According to him, the action of the President has disreputed the Association as it now appears “duplicitous in the eyes of well-meaning Ghanaians, given our previous positions on illegal mining”.

Non-participation
In a statement signed by Dr Serebour on October 8, the GMA announced it had no plan to join the Trades Union Congress’ declared industrial action.

He therefore directed members to continue service delivery to the public without any interruption.

It however declared its support for the fight against illegal mining.

Strike
Organised labour is set for an industrial action on October 10, 2024. This is geared at compelling the government to declare a state of emergency; revoke LI 2462 that mandates the mining in forest reserves; remove seized machinery from forest reserves; establish special courts to try those engaging in illegal mining; give the police and the military a free hand to operate; and compel political parties vying in the general election to make a commitment to the fight against galamsey.

Last week, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo met with the leadership of the group.

At the meeting, the President is said to have committed to taking steps when Parliament reconvenes to revoke the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L. I. 2462), prohibit illegal mining in water bodies and forest reserves, and designate these areas as Red Zones for mining.

Furthermore, they reportedly agreed that the Attorney-General would collaborate with the Chief Justice to ensure swift adjudication of illegal mining cases while all Presidential Candidates sign a pact committing to the fight against illegal mining to depoliticise it.

Subsequent to all the agreements reached, the group agreed to back down on the intended strike, according to the government.

However, at a presser on October 7, the group announced plans to proceed with it.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini