By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Organized Labour, led by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has called on the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo-Bawumia-led government to halt the escalating illegal mining (galamsey) activities by the end of September 2024.
The group in a statement issued in Accra, today 11th September 2024 and signed by the General Secretary of TUC, Mr. Joshua Ansah, Chairman of Forum, Mr. Isaac Bampoe Addo, and Deputy General Secretary of GFL, Mr. Kenneth Koomson gave a stern warning to the government, threatening a nationwide strike by the end of September if decisive action is not taken to address the escalating galamsey (illegal mining) menace.
Organised Labour is thus demanding an immediate declaration of a state of emergency in all areas affected by galamsey.
The group also called for a halt to all mining activities in forest reserves, the establishment of special courts to fast-track the prosecution of galamsey operators, and the deployment of the military to remove and destroy all mining equipment in affected areas.
The statement stressed that the government’s failure to act swiftly and decisively on the galamsey menace has resulted in severe environmental degradation, including the destruction of rivers, farmlands, and forest reserves.
The statement added that if no concrete measures are taken by the end of September, Organised Labour will have no choice but to embark on a series of demonstrations and a nationwide strike to force the government’s hand.
Below is the Statement;
