The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has voiced strong disapproval of the recently constituted five-member ad hoc ministerial committee, assembled by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The committee, created to engage stakeholders and evaluate the government’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as galamsey, has been labeled “dead on arrival” by GNAT.
The association’s General Secretary, Thomas Musah, conveyed his disappointment during an interview on Channel One TV’s ‘I Stand Against Galamsey’ campaign. Musah expressed doubt regarding the committee’s ability to bring anything new to the fight against galamsey, especially considering the makeup of the team and the timing of its formation.
President Akufo-Addo, on Friday, September 13, 2024, appointed the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, as the chair of the committee. Kan-Dapaah is set to work alongside four other ministers in an effort to ramp up government action against illegal mining. However, GNAT has pointed out the inadequacies in this approach, particularly focusing on the involvement of ministers who are set to contest in the upcoming December 7 elections.
According to GNAT, these ministers will likely have insufficient time to dedicate to the complex and pressing issue of illegal mining, as they will soon be preoccupied with their election campaigns. Musah emphasized that the timing of this committee’s formation makes it an ineffective solution.
“The constitution of the new committee by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is dead on arrival because the only new person there is the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations,” Musah remarked. “These ministers will soon go and contest in their various constituencies, and there is no way they will have the time to address this problem.”
Musah further criticized the formation of the committee by pointing out that the initial promise to end galamsey was made by President Akufo-Addo himself, not by the ministers now tasked with carrying out that pledge. “We have gone past this stage already,” Musah argued. “The invitation by the committee for us to meet them on Tuesday is a non-starter.”
GNAT strongly advocates for immediate and more decisive action from the government in combating illegal mining. As part of their stance, the association has called for a state of emergency to be declared to address the ongoing devastation caused by galamsey. Musah indicated that there is overwhelming evidence that illegal mining has reached crisis levels, necessitating an urgent and significant governmental response.
To back its call for decisive action, GNAT has presented five key demands aimed at curbing the galamsey menace and protecting Ghana’s natural resources, particularly its forest reserves and water bodies. These demands include the following:
1. Immediate Declaration of a State of Emergency: GNAT believes that the current level of destruction caused by illegal mining warrants a state of emergency, which will allow the government to mobilize the necessary resources and take swift action to halt the degradation of the environment.
2. Evacuation of Mining Equipment from Forest Reserves and Water Bodies: Illegal mining operations have severely impacted Ghana’s forests and water bodies, causing irreparable damage. GNAT insists that all mining equipment in these protected areas must be removed to prevent further environmental harm.
3. Revocation of Law 2462 and Withdrawal of Mining Licenses: The association is calling for the immediate revocation of Law 2462, which governs mining operations, and the withdrawal of all mining and prospecting licenses in forests, protected reserves, and water bodies. According to GNAT, these licenses have been granted too freely and have contributed to the unchecked spread of galamsey operations.
4. Deployment of Police and Military Forces to Protect Natural Resources: GNAT has called for the deployment of security forces to remove and destroy mining and earth-moving equipment currently being used in river bodies and forest reserves. The association believes that only a strong security presence can effectively deter illegal miners and halt their operations.
5. Establishment of a Special Court to Prosecute Illegal Miners: Finally, GNAT has proposed the establishment of a special court dedicated to prosecuting those involved in illegal mining activities. The association believes that harsher penalties and quicker legal proceedings will serve as a deterrent to those who continue to engage in galamsey.
GNAT’s demands come at a critical time, as the environmental degradation caused by galamsey continues to worsen. Forest reserves, water bodies, and agricultural lands have all been affected by the unregulated mining activities, which have also led to the displacement of local communities and the contamination of drinking water sources.
The government’s previous efforts to combat galamsey have included military operations, public awareness campaigns, and the enactment of stricter laws. However, these efforts have largely fallen short, and illegal mining remains a significant problem across many regions of Ghana.
For GNAT, the creation of yet another committee is not the solution to the galamsey crisis. The association believes that bold, immediate action is necessary to prevent further environmental damage and protect the livelihoods of those who depend on Ghana’s natural resources.
As the country looks ahead to the December 7 elections, it remains to be seen whether the government will take heed of GNAT’s calls for action and implement the necessary measures to end illegal mining. With the formation of the ad hoc ministerial committee now being met with skepticism, there is growing pressure on the government to demonstrate its commitment to resolving the galamsey issue once and for all.
GNAT has made its stance clear: if the government is serious about tackling illegal mining, then it must act swiftly, decisively, and with a focus on the long-term protection of Ghana’s natural environment.
Source: Channel 1 TV
