Organized Labour remains resolute in the fight against illegal mining activities in the country as they have made new and fresh demands on the government to comply.
After a meeting with the government’s ad-hoc committee which was established to engage stakeholders, organized labour says they are not backing down on their earlier demands but rather adding up to ensure the menace is wholistically dealt with.
A statement signed by the General Secretary, Joshua Ansah after the meeting cited by The High Street Journal reveals that the group is adding two fresh demands to their earlier calls.
The group is demanding the immediate revocation of the Forest (Cessation of Forest Reserve) Amendment Instrument 2023 (E.I. 234). In addition, they also demand that all political parties in the country sign a pact demonstrating their commitment to the calls for a ban on galamsey.
“Given the dire nature of the threat we face, Organized labour made additional demands to their initial demands as follows; Revocation of Forest (Cessation of Forest Reserve) (Amendment) Instrument, 2023 (E.I. 234); All political parties to sign a pact on banning galamsey,” portions of the statement read.
The group explains that their insistence on their earlier and new demands stems from the failure of the government to stop the galamsey menace which has serious socio-economic and health impacts.
Labour further emphasized that the new demands do not replace the old demands but remain unchanged in addition to the timeliness provided.
“We want to reiterate that our initial demands remain unchanged and timelines for action have not been varied and that if by the end of September 2024, a favourable response is not received, our intended actions would be rolled out,” the statement noted.
Meanwhile, the ad-hoc committee representing the government accepted the proposals of organized labour but pleaded for additional time to continue with their engagement with other stakeholders.
This they said, will enable the government to respond to the specific demands of Labour in a week.
Earlier demands of Labour include a declaration of a State of Emergency in line with the provisions of the 1992 Constitution (Articles 31 and 31(4) to halt forms of mining (legal or illegal) in forest reserves and around water bodies. The group also demands immediate evacuation of all mining equipment in forest reserves and around water bodies.
Failure of the government to meet these demands by the end of September 2024, Labour says it will embark on a massive nationwide industrial action.
But the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has rejected calls for a blanket ban on small-scale mining, arguing that such a move would be a misplaced priority and that the focus should be on recalcitrants destroying our water bodies, not a ban.
