Update Ghanaians on your fight against galamsey – Democracy Hub tells Akufo-Addo
Pressure group Democracy Hub has challenged President Nana Akufo-Addo to update Ghanaians on efforts by his government to fight illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, if indeed his administration takes the fight against the menace seriously.
According to Isaac Yeboah, Director of Operations, Democracy Hub, the president has not done much to end galamsey, which has destroyed water bodies and farmlands.
Speaking to host of the New York-based Adinkra Radio Morning Show, Daakyehene Ofosu Agyemang, Isaac Yeboah pointed accusing fingers at the president, claiming he is involved galamsey.
“I believe President Akufo-Addo is involved in galamsey simply because we have visited galamsey sites and the illegal miners tell us that they got their authority or license to mine from Jubilee House. Who heads the Jubilee House? You cannot tell me that the watchman at Jubilee House is the one that gave them galamseyers authorization to mine.
“If the miners say they got their permit from Jubilee House, what are they talking about? So, if the President says he is not involved in galamsey, he should come out boldly and tell Ghanaians. When he’s done, he should tell us the pragmatic measure put in place by this administration to fight galamsey.”
President Akufo-Addo on October 9, 2024, instructed the Minister of Defence to deploy additional military forces to reinforce “Operation Halt,” the government’s initiative to curb illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The operation will focus on regions near water bodies and forest reserves, which have been severely impacted by illegal mining activities.
This directive follows mounting pressure from Organised Labour, which had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the government did not take stronger action to stop galamsey.
Organised Labour demanded that illegal mining activities be halted immediately to prevent further environmental degradation.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, the Presidency announced that the enhanced operation would include deploying naval boats on polluted rivers.
The military will enforce a strict ban on all mining activities, whether legal or illegal, in designated areas.
This step is intended to ensure the immediate cessation of activities that are harming Ghana’s natural resources.
The additional military forces will be tasked with safeguarding water bodies and forest reserves across the country.
The government stressed that no mining activities would be permitted in “red zones” and vowed to take decisive action against those who violate this directive.
“The President has directed the Minister for Defence to deploy additional military forces to intensify the ongoing “Operation Halt”, which aims to curb illegal mining activities.
“The 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.”
Meanwhile, Organised Labour has suspended its highly anticipated nationwide strike scheduled for Thursday, October 10.
This decision was reached during an emergency meeting on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, where union leaders evaluated the current situation and agreed to call off the strike.
The suspension followed government assurances to address illegal mining, with significant actions being taken, including an intensified Operational Halt initiative led by the Ghana Armed Forces to combat galamsey in forest reserves.
Speaking at a media briefing, Trades Union Congress (TUC) Secretary General, Joshua Ansah, stated that the suspension would allow Labour to monitor the government’s implementation of these measures.
Organised Labour expressed its hope that the government’s recent efforts would lead to meaningful results in the fight against illegal mining.
Source: Adinkraradio.com