The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners is seeking discussions with the government and organized labour to address the environmental threats posed by illegal mining.

This follows the announcement of an impending strike by organized labour, aimed at pressuring the government to take action to protect the environment and water bodies by halting illegal mining.

Organised labour has stated its intention to strike on October 10 if the government fails to meet their demands to stop illegal mining.

Among their key demands are the declaration of a state of emergency and the revocation of the legislative instrument permitting mining in forests.

General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners, Godwin Armah, has expressed concern over the potential negative impact of the planned strike.

Below is the full statement issued by the small-scale miners.

PRESS CONFERENCE

OPERATION SAVE OUR WATERS: A QUEST FOR EQUITY 

The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) welcomes the united voice of Ghanaians in calling on the government for immediate and urgent to stop illegal mining to protect our water bodies and forests from destruction.

This is an unprecedented level of unity on a matter of national importance. We the small-scale miners, organised under the umbrella of GNASSM share the concern raised by the labour movement, various CSOs, religious bodies and many others.

GNASSM has a long history of working to prevent illegal mining and its destructive effects and adds it voice to the united voices of society on the galamsey menace and are proposing and taking the following steps in support of the fight against illegal mining and the threat to our water bodies and forests. 

1. GNASSM will deploy its taskforce to the water bodies to arrest the illegal miners polluting our water rivers, mining close to highways and all the fabricators of dredgers used. we will need support from government in term personnel and logistics 
2. Government should reconsider the granting of mining licenses for mining operations in forest reserves. 
3. Ilegal mining (galamsey) is an illegality and there are sanctions prescribe under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (703) as amended. Government should through its agencies enforce these laws. 
4. 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 so as 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 respects the role of the relevant technical and regulatory institutions and without political partisanship.
5. There should be a bipartisan approach in dealing with the illegal mining menace. Those who are politicking with the issue for their own selfish gain should desist from it. 
   One again we know the importance of the small scale mining sector which contributes significantly to GDP, 40 percent of our merchandised export. It also provides job opportunities to many and estimated | million directly and indirectly 4 million people depends on the sector. The supply of raw gold for value addition by our local jewelers and down stream job opportunities. Unemployment is a security threat whilst food and water shortage; environmental destruction is also security risk therefore we should find a win-win solutions the address these concerns at all front. The Association believes that the interest show by Ghanaians and the pressure on government to act has provided an opportunity to deal with the illegal mining activities once and for all. We will once again plead with organize labour to reconsider their decision on the intended strike and work together with Government in finding lasting solution to the challenge confronting all of us.