The government has voiced its surprise at the decision by Organised Labour to proceed with an industrial strike on October 10, 2024, over concerns about the ongoing illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) in the country. This follows a recent high-level meeting between President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and representatives of Organised Labour, which took place on October 3, 2024, at the Jubilee House.
During the meeting, both sides addressed the critical issue of illegal mining and its devastating effects on the nation’s environment and water bodies. The government highlighted several steps it was ready to take to tackle the problem, including revoking the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462) once Parliament reconvenes this month.
The president also reaffirmed that mining in water bodies and forest reserves remains strictly prohibited, designating these areas as “Red Zones” for all mining activities. In addition, law enforcement agencies were given full authority to eliminate any illegal mining operations in these protected areas.
Another key outcome of the meeting was a plan for closer collaboration between the government, Organised Labour, and other stakeholders in the fight against illegal mining.
The Attorney-General was tasked with working alongside the Chief Justice to ensure that cases related to illegal mining are swiftly adjudicated. Furthermore, the government endorsed a call for all presidential candidates to commit to depoliticizing the fight against galamsey, framing it as a collective national concern rather than a partisan issue.
Despite these agreements, Organised Labour expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that the government’s proposals fell short of their demands for more robust and immediate action against illegal mining. As a result, the leadership announced that the planned strike would proceed as scheduled, stating, “The government’s proposals do not adequately address our concerns.”
In a statement issued by Information Minister Fatimatu Abubakar on October 7, 2024, the government expressed disappointment at the decision to move forward with the strike but reassured the public of its commitment to finding lasting solutions. “The government remains committed to engaging with Organised Labour and other stakeholders in ongoing, constructive dialogue to combat illegal small-scale mining,” the statement read.
The government also reiterated its dedication to the fight against illegal mining, calling on all Ghanaians to unite in efforts to protect the country’s natural resources and prevent further damage to its water bodies and forests.
