Organised labour says it will embark on a series of demonstrations and a nationwide strike if the government fails to address the concerns of illegal mining by the end of September 2024.
At a press conference on Wednesday in Accra, Mr. Joshua Ansah, General Secretary of Trade Union Congress (TUC) said Organised Labour has followed the ongoing spirited public discussions on illegal mining (Galamsey), and its consequential destruction of the forest, water bodies and ecology, causing health hazards and severe health risk posed to communities living near galamsey sites.
He noted that the menace of galamsey has reached a crisis proportion, therefore, Organised Labour demands immediate actions from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo by the end of September.
He said an immediate declaration of 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. Immediate evacuation of all mining equipment in forest reserves and around water bodies.
They also demand the deployment of the Police and the Military, with full orders to remove or destroy all mining equipment and other earth-moving equipment around river bodies and in the forest reserves.
He called for the immediate revocation of LI2462 and withdrawal of all licenses that have been granted for prospecting and mining in forest and protected reserves and also around water bodies, and for establishing a special Court to prosecute the perpetrators of such crimes.
“We will urgently embark on a series of demonstrations and a nationwide strike if the government fails to address the concerns raised by the end of September 2024. We call on all well-meaning Ghanaians to join organized labour in the fight against this menace”, he added.
