The Federation of Labour has called on the government to deploy military forces to safeguard the nation's waterbodies and forest reserves from the destructive activities of illegal small-scale mining, known as galamsey.
This urgent appeal comes amid growing concerns over the severe environmental damage caused by these activities.
Kenneth Koomson, Deputy Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour in an interview on the Point of View (PoV) on Channel One TV noted that the "Military should be deployed with the full mandate and full authority to police waterbodies, police forest reserves to ensure that they are not encroached, and these lands are not disturbed by the activities of Galamsey." He added, "A special court should be set up to prosecute perpetrators of this horrible crime." His comments come after Organised Labour, led by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), on Wednesday, September 11, issued a stern warning to the government, threatening a nationwide strike by the end of September if decisive action is not taken to address the escalating galamsey (illegal mining) crisis.
In a statement issued by Joshua Ansah, Secretary General of the TUC, Organised Labour demanded the immediate declaration of a state of emergency in all areas affected by illegal mining.
The group also called for a halt to all mining activities in forest reserves, the establishment of special courts to fast-track the prosecution of galamsey operators, and the deployment of the military to remove and destroy all mining equipment in affected areas.
Ansah stressed that the government's failure to act swiftly and decisively on the galamsey menace has resulted in severe environmental degradation, including the destruction of rivers, farmlands, and forest reserves.
The statement added that if no concrete measures are taken by the end of September, Organised Labour will have no choice but to embark on a series of demonstrations and a nationwide strike to force the government's hand.
This call by Organised Labour adds to the growing pressure on the government to take immediate and effective action against illegal mining, which continues to wreak havoc on Ghana's natural resources and communities.