General Secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union, Abdul-Moomin Gbana, says with the increasing uncertainties in the future of work and unpredictable trade union terrain, workers unions need to be innovative in responding to the inevitable challenges.
He said as the union inches towards its centenary, it will continue to build on the achievements of its past leaders, who 77 years ago, worked hard to improve the poor working conditions in Ghana’s mining industry even though there is still a lot to be done.
Mr. Gbana said this at the launch of the Ghana Mine Workers Union’s maiden annual week which starts from Monday, June 21, to Friday, June 25.
It will be marked in mining communities such as Akyem, Ahafo, Obuasi and Tarkwa.
Mr. Gbana said the Gold Coast Miners Union, now the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union, was born in June 1944 in Abosso, near Tarkwa in the Western Region as a spontaneous response by miners at the time, to colonial domination and exploitation.
Mr. Ghana said the Annual Mineworkers’ Union Week to be observed in June every year, will among other things appreciate and celebrate the hard-working members, develop and form new partnerships as well as create awareness campaign on key issues relating to the mining industry and the country in general.
The activities earmarked for the week include hoisting of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union flags and distribution of Mineworkers’ Union paraphernalia, campaign on the glaring infrastructural deficit in mining communities, donations to targeted institutions in the health and education sectors within mining communities as well as instituting a Union fully funded insurance cover known as Abusua Insurance for members and their dependents.