President Akufo-Addo Intensifies Efforts Against Illegal Mining Following Organised Labour Pressure

In a decisive move to strengthen legal and operational measures against illegal mining in Ghana, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has instructed the Attorney General to work closely with the Chief Justice to expand the number of courts dedicated to handling illegal mining cases. This comes as part of a wider government response aimed at addressing the growing issue of “galamsey” — illicit small-scale mining — which has had devastating effects on the environment.

President Akufo-Addo revealed that four courts are already in place to expedite legal proceedings on illegal mining activities. However, recognising the need for more robust legal infrastructure, he has directed that additional courts be established to enhance the prosecution process.

Alongside the judicial efforts, the president has tasked the Minister for Defence with deploying more military personnel to reinforce “Operation Halt,” a government-led initiative to curb illegal mining. The operation, which has been ongoing for some time, will now see intensified military action, including the deployment of naval vessels on polluted rivers, aimed at halting all mining operations — legal and illegal — in and around the affected water bodies.

Further directives were issued to the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), calling for the immediate suspension of L.I. 2462, the law governing mining in forest reserves. This suspension forms part of a broader effort to reassess and strengthen environmental protections in light of the damage caused by galamsey activities.

These measures follow a meeting between the government and Organised Labour on October 8, 2024. Organised Labour had previously threatened a nationwide strike, set to begin on October 10, if the government failed to take concrete action against illegal mining. The meeting resulted in President Akufo-Addo outlining a series of measures to address their concerns.

In addition to the legal and military actions, the president called on all presidential candidates and political parties to sign a pact committing themselves to a unified fight against illegal mining. The government’s call for collective political action underscores the broader national challenge posed by galamsey, which has been a contentious issue in Ghana for years.

Following the announcement of these measures, Organised Labour expressed satisfaction with the government’s commitment and agreed to suspend their planned strike. The group pledged to collaborate with other stakeholders to ensure that the fight against illegal mining remains a priority.

The government’s multi-faceted approach to combating galamsey marks a renewed effort to protect Ghana’s environment and natural resources, while demonstrating responsiveness to public and labour concerns over the country’s mining practices.

Source: GhanaFeed.Com