Nana Akufo-Addo has called for an immediate halt to illegal mining

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has responded to Organised Labour’s press release of October 7, 2024, which called for an immediate halt to illegal mining (galamsey) around water bodies and forest reserves. Demonstrating the government’s commitment to addressing the issue, the President, through the relevant sector ministers, invited the leadership of Organised Labour to a meeting held on October 8, 2024, at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.

Following the discussions, President Akufo-Addo, in a letter dated October 9, 2024, addressed to the leadership of Organised Labour, outlined several measures aimed at tackling their concerns:

1. Deployment of Additional Military Personnel: The President has directed the Minister for Defence to deploy more military forces to reinforce the ongoing “Operation Halt,” which targets illegal mining activities. This includes the deployment of naval boats on polluted rivers to ensure the immediate cessation of all mining activities, whether legal or illegal, in and around these water bodies.
2. Suspension of Mining in Forest Reserves: The President has instructed the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to suspend the enforcement of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462), effective immediately.
3. Strengthened Prosecution of Illegal Mining Cases: To enhance legal action against illegal mining, four specialized courts have already been established. The President has directed the Attorney General to collaborate with the Chief Justice to increase the number of courts dedicated to handling illegal mining cases.
4. Call for a National Pact on Illegal Mining: The government is encouraging Organised Labour to advocate for all presidential candidates and political parties to sign a pact, committing to the fight against illegal mining as part of their election pledges.

In light of these decisive measures, the government respectfully requests that Organised Labour suspend its planned strike action on October 10, 2024, and collaborate with the government and other stakeholders in combating the galamsey menace.

President Akufo-Addo remains steadfast in his commitment to ending illegal mining and urges all citizens, political leaders, and stakeholders to unite in this crucial national effort.