Organised Labour has renewed its call for decisive action against illegal mining, also known as galamsey, after a critical meeting with the Ad-hoc Inter-Ministerial Committee on September 17, 2024.
The committee, formed by the President, aims to involve stakeholders in tackling the ongoing galamsey crisis that continues to ravage the country.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, Joshua Ansah, Secretary General of Organised Labour, stated that the meeting, chaired by the Minister for National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, outlined the government’s efforts to curb illegal mining.
However, Ansah expressed Organised Labour’s dissatisfaction with the government’s past measures, considering them inadequate to stop the harmful practice and its devastating impact.
He further noted that Organised Labour called for the government to repeal the Forest (Cessation of Forest Reserve) (Amendment) Instrument, 2023 (E.I. 234), and urged all political parties to sign a pact to ban galamsey.
While the government representatives welcomed these proposals, they requested additional time to consult with stakeholders and devise a comprehensive plan to tackle galamsey.
Ansah also mentioned that the government promised to respond to their demands within a week.
He stressed that Organised Labour’s initial demands and deadlines remained firm, and should the government fail to provide a favorable response by the end of September 2024, Organised Labour is ready to take further action.
“We continue to count on the support of our members and well-meaning Ghanaians and urge all to remain resolute in our quest to ensure our self-preservation and a complete cessation of galamsey in our country,” he added.
