Environmental advocacy group slams Organised Labour’s strike suspension over galamsey

Environmental advocacy group Eco-Conscious Citizens has expressed disappointment over the decision by Organised Labour to suspend its national strike without securing key environmental demands.

The group specifically called out the government’s failure to declare a State of Emergency to address the destructive impact of illegal mining, particularly in forest reserves and water bodies.

In a statement issued on 16 October 2024, signed by its Coordinator Awula Serwah, the group commended the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG) for continuing their strike.

The group stressed that it would not back down until significant environmental protection measures are enforced.

“The unmet demands, as articulated by the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, include a declaration of a State of Emergency, which is a critical step and essential to effectively halt mining operations in Forest Reserves and around water bodies.

“Without this declaration, the measures implemented remain insufficient to curb the destructive impact of mining activities,” the statement noted.

The group is also pushing for all political aspirants to commit to the restoration of water bodies, farmlands, and forests, while ensuring those responsible for environmental damage are held accountable under the Polluter Pays principle.

The group outlined several demands, including: “The declaration of a State of Emergency under Section 31 of the 1992 Constitution to deploy police and military forces to remove all illegal miners and their equipment from water bodies, forest reserves, and farmlands.

“The repeal of L.I. 2462, which allows mining in certain forest reserves, and the immediate revocation of all mining licenses in these areas.”

It is also seeking a halt to all small-scale mining operations and a suspension of the issuance of mining licenses and investigation of individuals named in Prof. Frimpong Boateng’s report on illegal mining.

Despite Organised Labour’s progress in securing government agreement to revoke L.I. 2462, the group remains skeptical of the government’s true intentions.

It warned that the revocation process could be delayed, preventing any real action before Parliament is dissolved on Friday, 1 November 2024.

“Government may revoke L.I. 2462 by laying it before Parliament and waiting for the passage of 21 sitting days before the L.I. is revoked. This will ensure that L.I. 2462 is not revoked in this Parliament, as it will be dissolved on 1st November,” the statement cautioned.

Eco-Conscious Citizens proposed that the Minister of Environment, Science, and Innovation make an immediate statement in Parliament, announcing the revocation of L.I. 2462 to avoid further delays.

The group also called on government to meet all environmental demands to avert what it describes as an impending “environmental catastrophe.”

“We face an existential threat and stand with UTAG and TUTAG in demanding that the demands are met to avert the impending catastrophe,” the statement added.

Source:classfmonline.com