In a decisive move to address growing public and institutional concerns over illegal mining (popularly known as galamsey), the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has taken swift action in response to a press release issued by Organised Labour on 7th October 2024.
Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications Office of the President, in a release, underscored the President’s call for an immediate halt to galamsey operations in and around water bodies and forest reserves.
“In a demonstration of the Government’s commitment to tackling the issue, President Akufo-Addo, through the relevant sector ministers, invited the leadership of Organised Labour to a meeting held on Tuesday, 8th October 2024, at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.”
Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications Office of the President
According to the statement, following this engagement, President Akufo-Addo, through a letter dated 9th October 2024, addressed to the leadership of Organised Labour, outlined a comprehensive set of measures to tackle the ongoing environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.
These measures represent a more aggressive approach to an issue that has plagued the nation for years.
Key Measures to Combat Illegal Mining
To intensify efforts against illegal mining activities, the statement noted that President Akufo-Addo has instructed the Minister of Defence to bolster the military presence under “Operation Halt,” an initiative established to target galamsey hotspots.
The operation according to the statement will see an expanded deployment of military forces, including naval boats, to monitor and enforce a halt to all mining operations on heavily polluted rivers.
This deployment aims to ensure the immediate cessation of both legal and illegal mining activities in these critical water bodies, preventing further environmental degradation.
Again, in a significant policy shift, the statement indicated that the President has directed the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to suspend the enforcement of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462).
This suspension, which took effect immediately, halts all mining-related activities within forest reserves, providing much-needed respite for some of the nation’s most ecologically sensitive areas. The move underscores the Government’s focus on preserving the integrity of the country’s natural heritage.
Additionally, recognizing the need for a stronger legal deterrent, the statement emphasized that President Akufo-Addo has directed the Attorney General to work closely with the Chief Justice to increase the number of courts dedicated to prosecuting illegal mining cases.
The statement affirmed that four dedicated courts have already been established to expedite the prosecution process, and the addition of more courts will further enhance the judiciary’s ability to handle the growing caseload of galamsey-related offences.
Per the statement, the President believes this measure will serve as a stronger deterrent against illegal mining.
Call for a National Pact on Illegal Mining
In a move to ensure cross-party commitment to this national crisis, the statement indicated that the President has urged Organised Labour to play a role in encouraging all presidential candidates and their political parties to sign a National Pact on Illegal Mining.
This pact, according to the statement aimed at galvanizing a united front against galamsey, and would see political leaders commit to maintaining a strong stance against illegal mining as part of their election pledges.
The President sees this as a critical step in ensuring that the fight against galamsey transcends partisan politics.
“In light of these decisive actions, the Government respectfully requests that Organised Labour suspend its planned ‘strike action’ on 10th October 2024, and collaborate with the Government and other stakeholders to ensure the effective combat of the galamsey menace”.
Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications Office of the President
The statement from the Office of the President emphasized the importance of a unified front in tackling illegal mining, calling for a partnership between citizens, political leaders, and civic institutions.
“President Akufo-Addo remains determined to end illegal mining and calls on all citizens, political leaders, and stakeholders to unite in this critical national effort,” the statement said.
The issue of illegal mining has remained a contentious and highly emotional topic in Ghana, with its destructive impact on water bodies, forest reserves, and agricultural lands sparking widespread outrage.
Several civil society organizations, activists, environmentalists, and local community leaders have long expressed their frustration over the Government’s perceived slow response to the crisis, urging stronger and more immediate action.
The recent ultimatum issued by Organised Labour represented the most recent in a series of pressures placed on the Akufo-Addo administration to intensify efforts to clamp down on illegal mining, which continues to threaten the nation’s water resources and biodiversity.
The planned strike was seen as a turning point that could have severe political and economic ramifications.
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