President Akufo-Addo has instructed the Ministry of the Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to immediately suspend the enforcement of Legislative Instrument (L.I) 2462 regarding mining in forest reserves.
This decision follows a meeting with Organised Labour on October 8, during which they threatened a nationwide strike on October 10 unless the government took action against illegal mining.
In a statement released on October 9 by the Office of the Presidency, the President outlined several measures to address the concerns raised by Organised Labour. Among these measures is a directive for the Defence Minister to deploy additional military personnel to strengthen ‘Operation Halt’ aimed at curbing illegal mining activities.
“The operation will be bolstered by the deployment of naval boats on polluted river bodies to ensure the immediate cessation of all mining activities, legal or illegal, in and around these water bodies,” the statement said.
In addition to the measures, President Akufo-Addo has also directed the Attorney General to collaborate with the Chief Justice to expedite the legal processes related to illegal mining activities.
This initiative aims to ensure that cases concerning illegal mining are processed more swiftly in the judicial system, reinforcing the government’s commitment to addressing the issue effectively.
“Increase the number of courts handling cases related to illegal mining” in order to “enhance legal acti on against illegal mining activities.”
The government has also called on presidential candidates and political parties to sign a pact pledging their commitment to combating illegal mining.
Additionally, President Akufo-Addo urged Organised Labour to postpone its planned strike on October 10 and work alongside other stakeholders to effectively address the galamsey issue.
In response to the government’s measures to tackle illegal mining, Organised Labour has decided to suspend its intended strike, expressing satisfaction with the actions announced by the government.