This follows a high-level meeting in the Jubilee House on October 3, 2024, between President Akufo-Addo and Organized Labour, where important agreements were made to counter the threat.
Both parties agreed on various steps to solve the issue and acknowledged the catastrophic impacts of illegal mining throughout the discussion. Among the accords were:
- Collaboration between the government, Organized Labour, and other stakeholders to tackle illegal mining.
- A commitment by the government to revoke the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462), when Parliament reconvenes in October.
- Intensified enforcement of laws prohibiting mining in water bodies and forest reserves, with a reaffirmation that these areas will remain “Red Zones” for all forms of mining.
- Empowering law enforcement agencies to eliminate illegal mining activities from these protected zones.
- Cooperation between the Attorney-General and the Chief Justice to ensure the swift adjudication of illegal mining cases.
- Support for a pact for all presidential candidates to commit to depoliticizing the fight against illegal mining.
Organizing Labor declared that it will go on with a strike in spite of these agreements in order to demand that the government take more decisive action.
The leadership claims that since the government’s plan does not sufficiently address their demands, they will not be changing their notice of strike.
In a statement released on Monday, October 7, by Information Minister Fatimatu Abubakar, the government acknowledged that it was taken aback by this action but assured the public that it remained committed to resolving the issue of illicit mining.
“Government will continue to engage Organised Labour and other stakeholders in a constructive dialogue to find lasting solutions to this national problem,” the statement read.
In addition, the government reaffirmed its commitment to combating illicit small-scale mining and urged all interested parties to unite in the fight to save the country’s forests, waterways, and ecosystem.
