Organised Labour has put forward two additional demands for the government to take firm action against illegal mining.

The labour unions have warned that failure to address their concerns will lead to a nationwide strike.

At a meeting with government officials on September 17, the unions added two new demands to their existing list.

Speaking on behalf of the union, General Secretary for Trades Union Congress, Joshua Ansah, called for the revocation of Executive Instrument (EI) permitting mining in sensitive areas and for the inclusion of traditional rulers in the fight against illegal mining.

“The EI to be revoked. Chiefs who are the custodians of our lands are to be brought on board. I mean the various stakeholders who matter are to be brought on board and finally the politicisation of this galamsey menace,” he said on Tuesday.

Read also: Galamsey: Organised labour threatens strike if gov’t doesn’t act by end of September

The other demands are an immediate declaration of a state of emergency in areas most affected by galamsey. The unions believe this drastic measure is essential to restore order and allow for a coordinated response to the illegal mining activities. They have also demanded a complete halt to all mining activities in forest reserves, citing the irreversible damage that illegal mining has caused to water bodies, farmlands, and ecosystems.

Additionally, the unions are pushing for the creation of special courts dedicated to prosecuting offenders involved in illegal mining.

They called for immediate and robust actions to curb the menace that continues to devastate communities and the environment.