The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has demanded the immediate resignation of Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, following his recent remarks on the calls for a state of emergency to combat illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
Minister Jinapor, during a media engagement in Accra, referred to the calls for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency as “draconian,” cautioning that such a measure could have serious implications for the country.
However, the Deputy Secretary General of the GFL, Kenneth Koomson, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the minister’s stance, suggesting that Jinapor’s comments either reveal a lack of understanding of the severity of the issues or a deliberate effort to downplay their impact. In an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Citi FM, Mr. Koomson voiced his concerns and questioned Jinapor’s capability to effectively manage the fight against illegal mining.
“The minister clearly appears to be ill-informed and ill-equipped, or perhaps pretending not to understand the gravity and the magnitude of the issues that we have recounted and enumerated,” Mr. Koomson stated. He further criticized Jinapor for describing the call for President Akufo-Addo to activate Article 31, which would enable the declaration of a state of emergency, as “draconian.”
Koomson emphasized that Jinapor’s characterization of the proposal as draconian is “very pathetic and smacks of a deliberate act to destroy the very water bodies that protect and give us life.” He went on to argue that Jinapor’s remarks indicate a serious misunderstanding of the issues at hand and render him unfit for his position. “For him to describe this as draconian is quite unfortunate, and in fact, the minister must resign for making that statement because he clearly doesn’t really understand the issues and he is not fit to occupy that position with that kind of thinking cap.”
Koomson also highlighted the devastating impact of illegal mining on Ghana’s environment, particularly its forest reserves. He stressed, “For us to have 2.5 million hectares of our forest reserve decimated by the activities of galamsey means a whole country is wiped out by the activities of a few evil men.”
The GFL’s demand for Minister Jinapor’s resignation comes amid growing public concern over the effects of illegal mining on Ghana’s environment and the apparent inability of government officials to effectively tackle the crisis. The Federation believes that a state of emergency would empower the government to take drastic measures against the illegal miners and bring an end to the destruction of the nation’s water bodies and forests.
Despite efforts by the government to combat illegal mining, including the deployment of the military under “Operation Halt” to clamp down on illegal mining activities, the problem persists. Many Ghanaians are frustrated with the lack of significant progress and have called for more stringent measures, including the declaration of a state of emergency, to address the situation.
The GFL maintains that Minister Jinapor’s comments demonstrate a lack of commitment to the fight against illegal mining and disregard for the ecological and social costs to the country. They argue that it is crucial for the government to appoint leaders who are genuinely committed to protecting the nation’s natural resources and are willing to take decisive action.
The call for the minister’s resignation reflects broader concerns among various stakeholders about the government’s approach to the galamsey menace. Environmentalists, community leaders, and civil society organizations have all raised alarms over the rampant destruction caused by illegal mining, which has polluted major rivers and water bodies, degraded vast tracts of forest land, and threatened the livelihoods of thousands of rural Ghanaians.
The GFL argues that a state of emergency would enable more robust law enforcement and provide the necessary legal framework for dealing with the perpetrators of illegal mining. They believe that without urgent and decisive action, the ongoing devastation could reach an irreversible point, endangering the country’s future and the well-being of its citizens.
As public pressure mounts, the Ghanaian government faces the challenge of balancing environmental protection with economic interests. While some argue that declaring a state of emergency could have economic repercussions, others, including the GFL, insist that the environmental damage being caused by illegal mining activities is far too significant to ignore.
The demand for Minister Jinapor’s resignation and the call for a state of emergency represent a critical moment in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining. It remains to be seen how the government will respond to these mounting calls for decisive action to protect the country’s natural resources and safeguard the environment for future generations.
