In a bold move to tackle the long-standing menace of illegal mining, the government has deployed the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and trained Water Guards to collaborate with the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM).
The joint operation, aimed at protecting Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves, declared red zones due to the impact of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, brings together the Ghana Navy and GNASSM’s Taskforce and Monitoring Units.
“The government is committed to clamping down on illegal mining”, said Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
“This phase of the operation will be done in conjunction with the Small-Scale Miners Association of Ghana”, she added
According to the government, the renewed exercise forms part of its continued efforts to clamp down on the long-standing menace of illegal mining, stressing that the measure is to intensify the ongoing ‘Operation Halt’, which is led by the Ghana Armed Forces.
The leadership of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners has welcomed the collaboration exercise, calling it a “significant milestone” in safeguarding Ghana’s natural resources.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the General Secretary of GNASSM, Godwin Armah, underscored the importance of the joint operation, stressing that “it will ensure the sustainable management of these critical ecosystems”.
Community-led Approach
The small-scale miners have long held the view that a military-led operation to clamp down on illegal mining is not sustainable. Instead, a community-led approach like the GNASSM Taskforce and Monitoring Units, made up of community members with support from the government will yield the needed results.
Illegal mining has ravaged Ghana’s pristine rivers and forests, leaving scars that will take generations to heal.
Over three (3) million people, estimated to be dependent on these water bodies face daily struggles, with disappearing fish and degraded forest covers.
According to the Forestry Commission, 30% of Ghana’s forest cover has been lost to galamsey. The Water Resources Commission also notes that 60% of Ghana’s water bodies are polluted.
Restoration Efforts
The deployment of the navy alongside GNASSM’s Taskforce and Monitoring Units to patrol water bodies and forest reserves mark a turning point.
Godwin Armah, in an interview, pledged that GNASSM would continue its community outreach program, raising awareness about sustainable mining practices and the need to safeguard natural resources.
“We will not rest. This is a national exercise, we need everyone’s support. With traditional authorities, opinion leaders, the clergy and youth groups on board, we can restore polluted water bodies and reclaim destroyed forest reserves”, he noted.
Meanwhile, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, 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) with immediate effect.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Communications at the Office of the President, Eugene Arhin, on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
The President has also directed the Minister for Defence, Dominic Aduna Bingab Nitiwul, to deploy additional military forces to intensify the ongoing ‘Operation Halt’, which aims to curb illegal mining activities.
The operation, he noted, would be bolstered by the deployment of naval boats on polluted river bodies to ensure the immediate cessation of all mining activities, legal or illegal, in and around these water bodies.
The President’s action is as a result of a meeting he had with organised labour on Tuesday.
“In a bid to enhance legal action against illegal mining activities, four (4) dedicated courts have already been established.
“The President has further directed the Attorney General to work with the Chief Justice to increase the number of courts handling cases related to illegal mining”, the statement read.
The government has urged Organised Labour to encourage all presidential candidates and their political parties to sign a pact, committing themselves to the fight against illegal mining as part of their election pledges.
In light of these decisive actions, the president called on the Organised Labour to suspend its planned “strike action” which was scheduled for October 10, 2024 and rather collaborate with Government and other stakeholders to ensure the effective combat of the galamsey menace.
In a related development Organised Labour announced that it has suspended its planned nationwide strike, originally set for today.
This decision came after the government proposed a series of enhanced measures aimed at addressing the pressing concerns raised by Organised Labour regarding the environmental and social impacts of illegal mining activities on water bodies and forest reserves.
The backdrop to this announcement dates back to October 1, 2024 when Organised Labour declared a nationwide strike due to the government’s perceived failure to adequately respond to their demands for action against illegal mining.
The union’s initial statement outlined their concerns and called for immediate government intervention to halt these destructive practices, which threaten both the environment and the livelihoods of communities dependent on these natural resources.
The government, according to Organised Labour on Wednesday, October 8, 2024 met with the Leadership of Organised Labour and Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA), which discussed at length Organised Labour’s response to the earlier measures announced by Government.
It is in this regard that Organised Labour has called on all workers to report for work on Thursday, October 10, 2024, and beyond.
However, Organised Labour has promised to keenly monitor the implementation of these measures by the government.
