Government surprise at Organised Labour’s plan to strike despite ongoing efforts against illegal mining

The government has expressed surprise over the decision by Organised Labour to proceed with its planned strike action, despite ongoing collaborative efforts to combat illegal small-scale mining, also known as galamsey.

This follows a high-level meeting convened by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at the Jubilee House to address the concerns raised by Organised Labour regarding the environmental impact of illegal mining activities.

During the meeting, government officials and representatives from Organised Labour extensively discussed the issue of illegal mining, reviewing the steps taken by the government to address the problem. Both parties agreed on a series of measures, including increased collaboration between government and labour groups, revocation of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462), and ramped-up enforcement efforts to protect water bodies and forest reserves from mining activities.

The government committed to taking immediate action when Parliament reconvenes this month, including introducing stronger enforcement to ban illegal mining in water bodies and forest reserves, which have been designated as Red Zones for mining. Law enforcement agencies have been mandated to clear these areas of any illegal mining operations to protect the environment.

Despite these assurances and the ongoing collaboration, Organised Labour has indicated its intention to proceed with a strike. Government officials, however, were taken aback by this decision, considering the agreed-upon measures aimed at addressing the concerns raised by labour groups.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Information, the government reiterated its dedication to tackling the illegal mining crisis and emphasized that it remains committed to working with all stakeholders, including Organised Labour, to protect the nation’s natural resources. The government expressed its hope that the agreed measures will be given time to take effect before any industrial action is taken.

The Ministry’s statement also highlighted the importance of unity in fighting illegal mining, noting that the collaboration between government and labour groups could yield positive outcomes for environmental sustainability and economic stability. However, the surprise move by Organised Labour to strike has raised questions about the next steps in the ongoing battle against galamsey. The government remains hopeful that continued dialogue will prevent the strike from moving forward and ensure that all parties remain focused on eradicating illegal mining and preserving the nation’s environment.