… To organize demonstrations and a nationwide strike if there is failure to address the concerns raised by end of
September 2024!
The Trades Union Congress (TUC), the umbrella body for Organized Labour, has stated that it will embark on
demonstrations and a nationwide strike if government fails to address their concerns raised by end of September
2024.
Organized Labour has state that the nation is faced with a crisis of unprecedented proportions, and government has a
responsibility to act swiftly before Ghana becomes an importer of water.
This was contained in a press statement on the illegal mining {galamsey} read by Brother Joshua Ansah, the
Secretary General of TUC Ghana on behalf of Organized Labour. It was titled ‘Time to End Galamsey for Good’.
This follows a meeting by Organised Labour on Wednesday September 11, 2024 by the leadership of Organised
Labour to discuss the growing menace of illegal mining and the dangers it poses to the Ghanaian society.
Organised Labour stated that it 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 risk
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.
“It is now clear to us as it is to all well-meaning Ghanaians that the menace of galamsey has reached a crisis
proportion. The depletion of our forest cover has never been this rapid. The destruction of our water bodies is at an
unprecedented scale. Our entire ecosystem is on the precipice,” the statement said.
Organised Labour recalled that the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) indicated in a recent statement
indicated its inability to produce the required volumes of water for the people of Cape Coast and Elmina primarily
because of the heavy pollution of the River Pra from activities of illegal mining.
“In 2022, the GWCL shut down its water treatment plant in Kyebi because "the Birim River from which water is
pumped for treatment to the township and its environs has been heavily polluted due to the operations of illegal
miners". The cost of treating water has gone up by about tenfold according to GWCL. Ghana risk importing
water for household and industrial consumption.
“The torrents of videos and photos of heavily polluted and discoloured water bodies are alarming. Even more
harrowing are the videos and photos of lifeless bodies of young people pulled from galamsey pits every now and
then. The threat to food supply has been growing as agricultural lands are appropriated for mining activities. The
intensive and inappropriate use of mining-related chemicals is affecting productivity of agricultural lands and
food safety,” TUC stated.
Organised Labour therefore demanded immediate actions from the President of the Republic.
They proposed a four-point agenda which are as follows;
1. An immediate declaration of State of Emergency 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 the Police and the Military with full orders to remove/destroy all mining equipment and other
earth moving equipment around river bodies and in the forest reserves
2. The immediate revocation of LI2462 and withdrawal of all licenses that have been granted for prospecting and
mining in forest and protected reserves and also around water bodies.
3. Establish a Special Court to prosecute the perpetrators of this horrible crime.
ORGANIZED LABOUR will urgently embark on series of demonstrations and a nationwide strike if government
fails to address the concerns raised by end of September 2024.
“We call on all well-meaning Ghanaians to join organized labour in the fight against this menace,” the statement
concluded.
