Report By: Ishmael Barfi
In the wake of the numerous calls for the ban of illegal mining to protect farmlands and water bodies, Organized Labour has issued a request to the government of Ghana, demanding an end to illegal mining, known as galamsey, by the end of September.
During a crucial meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee constituted by the President and the Organised Labour Unions at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, on Tuesday, 17th September 2024, Abraham Otabil, the Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, indicated that the meeting did not achieve the desired outcome for the Labour unions.
However, the government remains committed to continuing dialogue with the unions to develop a roadmap for temporarily banning mining activities.
Mr. Otabil acknowledged the severe damage caused by illegal mining and emphasized that the Ministry is aware of the environmental destruction it has wrought.
He therefore reiterated that the government is implementing measures to prevent further degradation of farmlands and pollution of water bodies, ensuring these resources are preserved for future generations.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Labour unions, Mr. Ransford Bambo, stressed that the unions are demanding an immediate and total ban on all forms of mining, including prospecting.
He outlined six key demands and warned that failure to address these would result in a complete shutdown, leading to significant revenue loss for the government over a month.
The unions are calling for decisive action to halt the menace of galamsey and protect farmlands and water bodies from pollution. They also seek amendments to certain constitutional provisions to safeguard lives and property.
The five-member committee is led by the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah with other members of the committee being the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, the Minister of Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions, Ignatius Baffour Awuah and the Minister of information, Fatimatu Abubakar.
The move follows the recent calls from various stakeholders urging the President to act on the menace of illegal mining.
The committee’s mandate is to engage with key stakeholders including local communities, traditional rulers, and industry experts to assess the effectiveness of current government measures aimed at curbing illegal mining.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
