The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has described suggestions to declare a state of emergency against illegal mining (galamsey) as extreme.
In a media engagement with selected journalists, Mr Jinapor emphasized that while fighting galamsey remains a priority, extreme measures could have unintended consequences on the economy, livelihoods, and governance.
“Declaring a state of emergency, that is in the bosom of the president, but I find that being far-reaching, (being) a very draconian measure to take,” Jinapor said.
“So we will engage him and we will have this conversation, and I believe out of that, we maybe need to come up with some consensus that we can work with.”
This statement comes after a general call to ban small-scale mining because of its devastating impact on water bodies.
The union has given the government till the end of September to take decisive action to address the escalating crisis or face their wrath.
In a statement issued by Joshua Ansah, Secretary General of the TUC, organised labour demanded the immediate declaration of a state of emergency in all areas affected by illegal mining.
The group also called for a halt to all mining activities in forest reserves, the establishment of special courts to fast-track the prosecution of galamsey operators, and the deployment of the military to remove and destroy all mining equipment in affected areas.
Mr Ansah stressed that the government’s failure to act swiftly and decisively on the galamsey menace has resulted in severe environmental degradation, including the destruction of rivers, farmlands, and forest reserves.
The statement added that if no concrete measures are taken by the end of September, organised labour will have no choice but to embark on a series of demonstrations and a nationwide strike to force the government’s hand.