Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has indicated that declaring a state of emergency over illegal small-scale mining operations will be too severe (Galamsney).
Declaring an emergency is, he said, the authority of the president, but he finds it far-reaching.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 11, during an engagement with the media, the Damongo legislator said ” Declaring a state of emergency, that is in the heart of the president, but I feel that being far-reaching, [being] a very drastic measure to take.
“So we will engage him and we will have this conversation; I believe out of that we may have to come up with some consensus that we can work with.”
Those including a Governance Expert, Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah had urged President Nana Addo Dankwa-Addo to declare a state of emergency in districts most affected by galamsey.
Prof Baffour Agyeman-Duah noted that the influence on the water bodies and the ecosystem in general renders galamsey an existential threat to the country.
Declaring state of emergency will be draconian—Lands Minister
Speaking on the Big Issue on TV3 Monday, September 9, he asked whether there should be a state of emergency in view of the galamsey and answered “Absolutely, it should be immediate. At least for a year, we should also suspend licencing of businesses to mine in order to have a sobering review of our resource management.
He also questioned President Nana Ado Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s inaction on the galamsey threat.
“There is reason for worry about the president’s loud silence. We just have to proclaim a state of emergency in the areas where the galamsyers are working. Soldiers were sent in and what happened? It appears the state has been so weak and unable to uphold the laws. Although both of the two main political parties are responsible, today is not the time to point the finger either way.
His remarks coincide with the urgent demand of united health sector unions on the government to immediately stop all small-scale mining operations.
The leadership of these unions underlined in a joint statement the vital necessity of the government to strengthen regulatory and enforcement institutions in order to properly fight the galamsey threat.
The public sector health associations and unions including the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, Health Services Workers Union, Ghana Medical Association, Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association, Medical Laboratory Professional Workers Union, Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana, Ghana Association of Certified Anesthetists, Health Accounting Staff Association, and the Ghana Physician Assistant Association have expressed serious concerns over the negative impact of galamsey on water bodies.
The statement noted: “The Ghana Water Company recently reported a reduction in water production by over 60% in the Western Region, 30% in the Central Region, with a total loss of 50% of treated water due to pollution and silting from galamsey activities.”
The union leaders are calling for quick government response to safeguard the water supplies of their country.
The declaration said: “As associations and trade unions in the health sector, holding collective bargaining agreements on behalf of health sector employees, we demand that the government immediately bans all small-scale mining operations.”
They also encouraged the government to provide resources to pertinent security agencies so that offenders could be clamped down and quick prosecution could be ensured, so strengthening regulatory enforcement.
The unions said, “All political parties should make public declarations and publish duly signed papers on their commitment to fight illegal and unethical mining activities in Ghana.”
