Pressure group, OccupyGhana, has called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency in all mining areas in Ghana in his bid to fight galamsey.
In view of this, the group wants parliament to be recalled from recess for the government to place before the house, the facts and circumstances leading to the declaration of the state of emergency under article 31(2).
Their call comes at a time when pressure is being mounted on the government to deal with the menace following reports that Ghana may soon import water if nothing is done.
In a statement, OccupyGhana bemoaned Ghana risks losing “our very essence as a nation unless immediate and radical action is taken.”
This, they noted, must first include an action to stop all unregulated and illegal mining, and then put a process in place to regulate artisanal mining, going forward.
“Considering the gravity of the situation, we fully expect Parliament to agree with the government and provide that the state of emergency should remain for such period as Parliament may determine so that the government can get a grasp of the situation,” portions of the statement read.
OccupyGhana in the statement added they have and are willing to offer suggestions and proposals on how to establish a properly regulated artisanal mining industry in Ghana that would benefit the wider interest of all Ghanaians.
Meanwhile, the group said it will use every Monday to remind the President of the need to fight galamsey until a drastic step is taken to bring the menace under control.
Below is the full statement:
Our Ref: OG/2022/038
Accra, 3 October 2022
Mr President:
GALAMSEY REMINDER (NO 1) – DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN ALL MINING AREAS
In our open letter to you dated 28 September 2022, we promised to send you a Galamsey Reminder every Monday morning until your government takes drastic steps to control the situation. This is the first Reminder.
We are convinced that the unprecedented and rampant scale of unregulated and illegal mining has reached a stage where under Article 31(9) of the Constitution, it constitutes a ‘situation in which any action is taken or is immediately threatened to be taken by any person or body of persons which—
(a) is calculated or likely to deprive the community of the essentials of life; or
(b) renders necessary the taking of measures which are required for securing the public safety, the defence of Ghana and the maintenance of public order and of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.’
We risk losing our very essence as a nation unless immediate and radical action is taken, first to STOP all unregulated and illegal mining, and then put a process in place to REGULATE artisanal mining, going forward.
We, therefore, request that you take immediate steps toward declaring a state of emergency in every mining area in Ghana.
In accordance with article 31(1) of the Constitution, these steps would be, first, seeking and obtaining the advice of the Council of State and, second, publishing a Proclamation of the declaration in the Gazette.
Thereafter we expect Parliament to be recalled from its vacation, for the government to place before it ‘the facts and circumstances leading to the declaration of the state of emergency’ under article 31(2). Considering the gravity of the situation, we fully expect Parliament to agree with the government and provide that the state of emergency should remain for such period as Parliament may determine so that the government can get a grasp of the situation.
For our part, we have and are willing to offer suggestions and proposals on how to establish a properly regulated artisanal mining industry in Ghana that would benefit the wider interest of all Ghanaians.
Yours in the service of God and Country
OccupyGhana
