Accra: A faction within the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), known as the "Silent Majority," has urged the National Executive Council (NEC) to end the ongoing strike concerning illegal mining activities in the country. During a press conference, Professor Isaac Boadi, spokesperson for the group, appealed to NEC to form a monitoring team to oversee the implementation of governmental strategies aimed at curbing illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey. According to Ghana News Agency, Professor Boadi stressed the importance of immediate action to halt the strike by October 18, 2024, and called for a collective commitment from political leaders. He requested that all presidential and parliamentary candidates, particularly from constituencies affected by mining, publicly sign a declaration affirming their commitment to address the issue of galamsey effectively. Professor Boadi acknowledged the strong public support in fighting illegal mining and emphasized the need for unity to overcome t his national challenge. He highlighted that UTAG had previously supported a motion for NEC to initiate industrial action to reinforce the nationwide prohibition on mining in critical areas like forest reserves, farms, and rivers. The decision to call off a planned nationwide strike by Organised Labour on October 9, 2024, following the government's presentation of a roadmap to tackle illegal mining, was noted by Professor Boadi. He expressed surprise over NEC's move to declare an indefinite strike subsequently and suggested that such decisions should involve a broader consultation within UTAG. Further, he criticized the NEC's handling of the situation and suggested that the focus should be on ensuring the government adheres to its commitments made to Organised Labour. Professor Boadi concluded by stating, "We strongly believe that UTAG Executives are elected to represent the interests of all members and not just some." The roadmap from the government includes significant measures such as the President's dir ective for the lands minister to seek parliamentary revocation of L.I. 2462, the deployment of military personnel to combat illegal mining, and the establishment of 14 specialized courts to expedite the trials of arrested illegal miners.