ACCRA, Oct. 5 (AGCNewsNet) - In a significant development for environmental protection and community welfare, the Ghana Federation of Labour announced on October 3, 2024, that the government has assured it will revoke Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, effectively prohibiting mining activities in forest reserves. The announcement followed a recent engagement between the Federation and government officials.

Kenneth Koomson, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour, stated that the government's response was in line with the demands from Organised Labour for a state of emergency in mining communities, the revocation of L.I. 2462, and the deployment of military forces to combat illegal mining activities.

Amid escalating tensions and threats from Organised Labour to embark on a nationwide strike if their demands were not met by October 10, the meeting with government representatives proved to be fruitful. Koomson confirmed that the government agreed to all their demands, promising immediate implementation. He noted that the government indicated its intention to repeal the controversial L.I. as soon as Parliament reconvenes.

In a bid for transparency and accountability, Koomson stressed that Organised Labour has requested an official written confirmation of the government's commitments. Once this confirmation is received, the Federation will deliberate on its contents and respond accordingly.

While the Labour Federation celebrates this milestone, concerns about illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, continue to loom large. The Member of Parliament for Effiduase Asokore, Dr. Ayew Afriyie, has faced backlash for suggesting that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would not ban galamsey, a position that some believe undermines efforts to address illegal mining in the country.

As the government navigates these pressing issues, public calls for decisive action against galamsey are growing louder, indicating that the fight against illegal mining in Ghana is far from over.