Mine workers across Africa have united to establish a federation that will champion the interests of miners on the continent.

The newly formed Africa Federation of Miners and Mineral Wealth aims to address the exploitation of Africa’s mineral resources by foreign multinationals, ensuring that the continent’s workers and economies receive a fair share of the benefits.

This announcement came during a working visit by the General Trade Union of Mines, Quarries, Salinas, and Energy Workers of Egypt, Cairo, to the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress in Accra on Thursday, September 26, 2024.

The federation will be headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

Abdul Moomin Gbana, General Secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union of TUC and Deputy Secretary General of the Africa Federation of Miners and Mineral Wealth, emphasised the federation’s commitment to changing the narrative of exploitation in Africa.

He underscored the importance of unity among unions across the continent to combat the historical imbalance of the global north profiting from the global south’s resources.

“Our expectation is that within the next decade, we must change the narrative of the global north exploiting the global south and leaving us with crumbs. The agenda of the federation is clear: we will work as unions across Africa to ensure the federation’s vision is realized,” Gbana stated.

The Egyptian delegation included General Secretary Nageh Gomaa Hassan Eissa, and executive members Kamel Mohamed Fawzy Sherif Khedr, Ashraf Shehata Mohamed Abouzeid, and Farouk Mohamed Mohamed Ali Elnaggar.

Speaking to the media, the General Secretary of the union from Egypt, Nageh Gomaa Hassan Eissa also revealed plans to set up investment companies to protect and support workers.

“The second goal of establishing the Africa Federation is to create joint investment companies, with workers holding shares in these companies. This initiative is for the benefit of the workers,” Eissa explained.
Joshua Ansah, Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), applauded the establishment of the federation, expressing concerns over governments’ failure to advocate for workers. He pledged the TUC’s support for the cause.”

“No one is going to fight for us unless we fight for ourselves. I am pleased with this collaboration, which not only serves the interests of workers but also addresses economic concerns. This is a noble cause, and the TUC fully supports it. We must all rise to the occasion because our leadership is failing us in protecting workers’ rights,” Ansah remarked.