Licensed small-scale miners call for talks as anti-galamsey strike nears

The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) is seeking discussions with the government and organized labour to address the environmental issues caused by illegal gold mining.

This comes after organized labour announced an impending strike on 10 October to pressure the government to take action against illegal mining and protect water bodies. Labour is asking the government to declare a state of emergency and revoke permits for mining in forests.

General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners Godwin Armah, expressed concern over the potential negative impact of the strike, emphasizing the need for collaboration to find a solution.

“Organized Labour has shown its serious concern about illegal mining by declaring a nationwide strike from 10 October. We call on the government to urgently signal a credible way forward on the ‘galamsey’ issue to avert the damaging effects of a general strike on our already fragile economy.

Labour and government should engage in discussions towards finding lasting and sustainable solutions to illegal mining which respect the role of the relevant technical and regulatory institutions and without political partisanship. There should be a bipartisan approach to dealing with the illegal mining menace. Those who are politicking with the issue for their selfish gain should desist from it”, Mr Armah proposed.

The Association, Mr Armah said, will soon deploy its task force to flush out illegal miners as part of its renewed efforts to clamp down on the menace.

The push to end against illegal gold mining in Ghana has led to widespread public outcry.

The United Nations has joined this call emphasising the severe consequences of unregulated mining, which extends beyond Ghana and impacts the entire West African region.

“Illegal and unregulated mining has devastating economic, social, and environmental consequences,” a statement issued by UN Resident Coordinator for Ghana, Charles Abani read. “It exacerbates poverty, damages livelihoods, pollutes the environment, negatively impacts health and water, disrupts peace, and fuels illicit financial flows”.

“We call on all protesters to maintain a peaceful and responsible approach and, on the police, to maintain professionalism in protecting law and order while upholding human and civil rights,” he stated.

The United Nations also called for unity among all sectors of Ghanaian society to address the illegal mining crisis.

“We call on all leaders in Ghana—government, national institutions, political parties, traditional and religious institutions, civil society, the private sector, and all citizens—across all opinion spectrums to work together to address this challenge. Ghana must succeed,” Abani urged.

The UN statement reiterated its support for sustainable and environmentally friendly actions in line with its #PactfortheFuture initiative, which focuses on climate action, environmental protection, and the creation of a brighter future for generations yet unborn.

“The UN in Ghana supports all actions in line with the #PactfortheFuture—including sustainability, climate action, the environment, and pollution—that secure a peaceful, brighter future for people, the planet, and generations yet unborn. This is our collective ambition,” Mr Abani concluded.

Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi

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