President Akufo-Addo has outlined measures aimed at combating illegal mining, as proposed by organised labour.
The measures include the deployment of additional military personnel, as he has directed the Defence Minister to intensify the ongoing ‘Operation Halt,’ which aims to combat illegal mining.
According to Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at the Presidency, the operation will be bolstered by the deployment of naval boats on polluted river bodies to ensure the immediate cessation of all mining activities, legal or illegal, in and around our water bodies.
The President, the statement revealed, has instructed the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, and Innovation, along with the Environmental Protection Agency, to suspend the enforcement of the Environmental Protection Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462) with immediate effect.
In the bid to ensure that cases involving illegal mining activities are fast tracked, four dedicated courts have already been established, and the President has instructed the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, to work in collaboration with the Chief Justice to increase the number of courts handling cases related to illegal mining.
The President has also admonished organised labour to encourage all presidential candidates and their political parties to sign a pact committing themselves to fight illegal mining, which is popularly known as galamsey, as part of their election pledges.
The statement further asked Organised Labour to call off its planned nationwide strike action, which is set to start on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Read the full statement below
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
