Galamsey, or illicit mining, is the target of punitive actions promised by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

One of these is to order the military and other law enforcement organizations to drive away illegal miners from forest reserves and bodies of water that are still considered “red zones” for mining activity.
When Parliament reconvenes this month, the President has ordered that the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L. I. 2462) be immediately repealed as part of the measures.

In an interview with Graphic Online to clarify the updated measures, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Samuel A. Jinapor stated that the soldiers would be sent out as soon as feasible.
He went on to say that they would take extreme measures against anyone or anything found to be involved in mining in the red zones, and that any machinery being used—such as excavators—would be destroyed or decommissioned as needed.

Setting
The actions come after last Thursday’s meeting between the President and Organized Labour at Jubilee House.

After reviewing the situation and the government’s previous efforts, Mr. Jinapor said that the parties had decided that the government will work with Organized Labor and other stakeholders to combat illegal mining, a long-standing issue.
According to Mr. Jinapor, the government would also step up its enforcement actions, especially with regard to the ban on illicit mining in forest reserves and water bodies.

The Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Afrifah Yamoah Ponko, emphasizes that “Water bodies and Forest Reserves remain Red Zones for mining, and all forms of mining in water bodies, as well as reconnaissance, prospecting, exploration, and/or small-scale mining in Forest Reserves remain banned.”
Mr. Jinapor clarified that the Office of the Attorney-General would work with the Chief Justice to ensure that cases involving illegal mining are decided quickly, and that law enforcement forces had been given full authority to remove all mining activities from forest reserves and water bodies.

Agreement

The minister stated that in an effort to depoliticize the issue facing the country, the administration also backed the demand that all presidential contenders sign a pledge to combat illicit mining.
“Considering the aforementioned, the government is taken aback by Organized Labor’s decision to initiate an industrial action on October 10, 2024,” stated Mr. Jinapor.

But he added that in order to find a constructive way to address the national threat, the administration would keep holding constructive discussions with Organized Labor and other relevant parties.
Mr. Jinapor urged all parties involved to join the battle against unlawful small-scale mining and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to this cause.

Context

On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, organized labor gave notice to begin a nationwide walkout in support of their demand for a complete prohibition on small-scale mining as a means of putting an end to the nation’s mining problem.

The labor unions in Accra met in a crunch to make the decision after the President’s deadline of September 30 to proclaim a state of emergency over galamsey had passed.

The Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Organized Labour, and numerous other organizations and groups have demanded that illegal mining operations cease their wanton damage of the environment and water bodies.
In light of the threat’s destruction of the environment, they have also demanded the revocation of LI 2462.
This comes after indiscriminate, illicit small-scale mining contaminated water bodies with siltation and heavy metals.