A nationwide demonstration against illegal mining has been threatened by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).
With the failure of the fight against illegal mining activities in Ghana being associated to the involvement of government officials and big wigs of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), a government which pledged to fight the menace with all its might, UTAG has finally taken an official stance against the menace.
Illegal mining activities have led to the pollution of water bodies and the degradation of forest reserves in the country, causing untold hardships to Ghanaians. Water shortages, skin irritations, mutations to name a few are some of the resulting effects of illegal mining and its associated activities on Ghanaians.
A press release issued by the union read;
“Numerous scholars have described the state-led efforts to combat galamsey in the Fourth Republic as “failed and corruption-infested militarized battles.” Given the current alarming state of illegal mining in the country, these critiques are difficult to dispute. UTAG is calling for a total ban on galamsey now,” UTAG urged.
“Several stakeholders reveal that if the current trajectory continues, Ghana may be forced to import potable water within six years. Cocoa productivity, once a cornerstone of our dear economy, has declined by 45% this year. Experts estimate that illegal mining costs the economy $2.3 billion annually.
It added that, “UTAG will join all labour unions in Ghana to act decisively to ensure that the right thing is done. If this is not done by the end of September 2024, we will embark on a nationwide industrial action. We have taken this principled stand against galamsey because our lives depend on it. We shall not waive our demand for the complete and total ban of galamsey. It’s time to #BANgalamsey and ban it for good”
