The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has vowed to intensify pressure on the government in the coming days to take firm and decisive action against illegal gold mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The Union has sharply criticised the government’s recent stakeholder engagements with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), arguing that such discussions have failed to yield any meaningful or lasting results.
Addressing journalists during a fact-finding visit to the Birim River in the Eastern Region on Friday, October 10, the Secretary-General of the TUC, Joshua Ansah, expressed deep concern about the deteriorating state of Ghana’s water bodies due to illegal mining, describing the practice as a “heinous crime.”
Mr. Ansah also cited the country’s highly centralised land administration system as a key obstacle in the fight against galamsey, noting that it limits the involvement of traditional authorities who could play a critical role in curbing the menace.
“The fight to dismantle galamsey is the government’s fight. All of us must and will support. In the few weeks, the TUC will outline a few measures to support the fight against galamsey.
The call of these measures will be to exert maximum pressure on the government and its agencies to act decisively on galamsey.
Government must act decisively and must act now. Galamsey must stop; enough of the meetings and advocacy, talking, we need action now. The leadership of TUC will meet after this important tour and make a very decisive decision with the government on the way forward,” he said.
The TUC’s warning adds to growing public frustration over the government’s handling of illegal mining, which continues to threaten the country’s water resources, environment, and livelihoods.
