Salam Mustapha
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has made a bold accusation against the leaders of Organised Labour, claiming they are essentially doing the bidding of the opposition the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to the NPP, a leaked confidential document they possess reveals a clear alignment between Organised Labour’s recent actions and the NDC’s political strategy for the upcoming 2024 elections.
“We wish to bring to the attention of the Ghanaian public that we are fully aware that the recent calls by Organised Labour and their motives are aligned with the NDC’s political strategy for the 2024 elections,” the party said in a statement released yesterday.
In the statement signed by the National Youth Organiser, Salam Mustapha, the NPP alleged that the document, titled “Winning 2024 and Beyond,” outlines the NDC’s plan, which Organised Labour seems to be following.
“Over the past weeks, we have seen Organised Labour embarking on a number of actions, including threatening a national strike and vocalising strong opinions on the issue of illegal small-scale mining (galamsey),” the party noted.
It asserted that interestingly, this newly emerged activism of Organised Labour has surfaced on issues the organisation largely ignored for years, intimating that it is highly questionable that Organised Labour only found its voice now, with just two months until the general election, especially on a critical issue like galamsey.
The NPP said the government had made significant efforts to combat illegal mining, passing stricter legislation and prosecuting offenders, including the infamous galamsey queen, Aisha Huang.
Despite these efforts, the party stated that Organised Labour has been silent until now, sparking questions about its sudden interest in the issue, particularly with the election looming.
“Moreover, Organised Labour has conveniently ignored the significant concessions made by the government during its recent meeting with the President, which were aimed at resolving these concerns. Despite these efforts, it is evident that Organised Labour’s current actions are politically charged, aimed at destabilising the government, and fuelled by the NDC’s strategy as outlined in the leaked document,” the statement read.
The NPP called on Ghanaians to reject attempts to politicise the fight against galamsey, emphasising that it is a national issue requiring a united front.
“The situation raises concerns about the politicisation of critical national issues and the need for collective action to protect Ghana’s environment, livelihoods, and communities. As the election approaches, the debate around galamsey and its politicisation is likely to intensify.
“We call on all well-meaning Ghanaians and members of the various unions under Organised Labour to reject any attempt to politicise the fight against galamsey. This is a national issue that transcends party politics. The future of our environment, livelihoods, and communities depends on us coming together to fight illegal mining as one united front. All hands must be on deck to combat this menace and ensure the sustainable use of our natural resources,” the party stressed.
The NPP urged Ghanaians to prioritise the nation’s wellbeing and stop exploiting the issue of galamsey, or illegal small-scale mining, for political gain.
By Ernest Kofi Adu