UTAG calls for nationwide ban on galamsey, threatens strike action
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has called for an immediate and complete ban on all forms of illegal mining, known as galamsey, and general mining in forest reserves, farms, and rivers.
In a strongly worded statement issued on September 9, 2024, UTAG warned that if the government does not impose a total ban on mining in these areas by the end of the month, it will embark on a nationwide strike in collaboration with other labour unions.
The association condemned the government’s previous efforts to combat galamsey, labelling initiatives like Operation Vanguard and Operation Flashout as “monumental failures.”
According to UTAG, these state-led measures have not only failed to curb the practice but have been marred by corruption and political interference.
Citing alarming statistics, UTAG stated that illegal mining activities have devastated Ghana’s environment and economy.
The statement noted that if galamsey continues at its current rate, the country could be forced to import potable water within six years. Cocoa production, a key pillar of Ghana’s economy, has also dropped by 45% this year, with illegal mining costing the economy an estimated $2.3 billion annually.
UTAG’s statement further highlighted the public health crisis in mining areas, where respiratory diseases have risen by 35 percent, and dangerous levels of toxins like mercury, arsenic, and lead have contaminated water bodies, soils, and food supplies.
“The time for action is now,” UTAG declared, urging the government to impose a total and permanent ban on all forms of small-scale mining. The group expressed frustration that the practice has become a tool for economic gain for political leaders, traditional authorities, and elites, while local communities bear the brunt of the environmental and health impacts.
UTAG also pointed to the deforestation crisis, with over 2.5 million hectares of forest cover already destroyed, and warned that Ghana’s natural resources are being rapidly depleted. The association praised the efforts of certain traditional leaders, such as the Asantehene, Otumfuo Nana Osei-Tutu II, who have publicly opposed galamsey, but stated that stronger, nationwide action is necessary to halt the destruction.
The association’s stance is clear: “We shall not waive our demand for the complete and total ban of galamsey.” UTAG urged all Ghanaians to join the fight to protect the environment and secure a sustainable future for the country.
If the government fails to act by the end of September, UTAG has vowed to lead a coordinated industrial action to push for the ban.
“It’s time to #BANgalamsey and ban it for good,” the statement concluded.