President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has responded to the incessant calls from Ghanaians to solve illegal mining, also known as galamsey, in forest reserves and water bodies.
Standing tall among the calls is the now suspended strike by Organised Labour which was to take begin on October 10, 2024.
In a statement from the presidency on October 9, 2024, four measures the government intends to use in addressing the situation were outlined.
This includes the deployment of additional military personnel to intensify the ongoing “Operation Halt”, with the aim of curbing illegal mining activities.
The Presidency added that this operation will be bolstered by the deployment of naval boats on polluted river bodies to ensure the immediate cessation of all mining activities, legal or illegal, in and around these water bodies.
The release also noted that the president has instructed the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to suspend the enforcement of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462) with immediate effect.
Thirdly, the president has dedicated courts that have already been established.
The Presidency has further directed the Attorney General to work with the Chief Justice to increase the number of courts handling cases related to illegal mining.
Lastly, the government has urged Organised Labour to encourage all presidential candidates and their political parties to sign a pact, commuting themselves to the fight against illegal mining as part of their election pledges.
The government has thereby pleaded with Organised Labour to call off their strike and collaborate with them in the fight against galamsey.
In that light, Organised Labour has called off their strike.
See the statement below
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
