General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Joshua Ansah has stated that if President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Ado does not respond urgently to the calls for a ban on galamsey, the group would embark on a series of nationwide strikes and demonstrations.
In a press conference on Tuesday 11th September, 2024 the Organized Labour called for an immediate action from President Akufo- Addo to declare a State of Emergency on small scale mining in the country.
“Organised Labour has followed the ongoing spirited public discussions on illegal mining (Galamsey) and its consequential destruction of our forest cover, water bodies and ecology, health hazards severe health risks posed to communities living near galamsey sites, such as exposure to toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide, including increase in respiratory and waterborne diseases due to polluted air and water, among other negative impacts”.
“The activities of illegal miners has reached a crisis proportion, which is causing the depletion of forest reserves, and the destruction of water bodies at unprecedented levels”.
If organized labor, including all public sector unions and associations, were to strike, the impact could be significant across various sectors. Government services can be disrupted as most important services like healthcare, education and transportation could be affected. The strike could also affect tax revenues, supply chains, and consumer confidence.
TUC says, in line with the provisions of the 1992 Constitution (Articles 31 and 31(4).
The declaration must incorporate the following:
a) an order to halt to all forms of mining (legal or illegal) in forest reserves and around water bodies.
b) Immediate evacuation of all mining equipment in forest reserves and around water bodies.
c) The deployment of Police and Military with full orders to remove/destroy all mining equipment and other earth moving equipment around river bodies and in forest reserves”.