The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) has called for the resignation of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, following his comments opposing the declaration of a state of emergency to address illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
During a recent media engagement in Accra, Minister Jinapor dismissed the calls for President Nana Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency as “draconian,” arguing that such drastic measures could have serious consequences for the country.
However, the GFL, through its Deputy Secretary General, Kenneth Koomson, criticized the minister’s position, accusing him of either downplaying the galamsey crisis or failing to understand its full impact on Ghana’s environment and water resources.
In an interview on Citi FM’s Breakfast Show monitored by Puretvonline.com, Koomson expressed his dismay at the minister’s remarks, questioning Jinapor’s ability to lead the fight against Galamsey effectively.
“The minister’s comments show a shocking lack of understanding of the seriousness of the issue. For him to call the proposed state of emergency ‘draconian’ is deeply troubling and suggests he is either out of touch or deliberately trying to downplay the destruction caused by illegal mining,” Koomson said.
He went on to highlight the severe environmental damage caused by galamsey, particularly the decimation of Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves.
The GFL is concerned that Jinapor’s refusal to endorse stronger action, such as invoking Article 31 for a state of emergency, is undermining efforts to tackle the crisis.
“The devastation caused by galamsey is enormous—2.5 million hectares of forest reserves have been destroyed. It’s unacceptable for the minister to downplay the call for action, and frankly, he should resign. His mindset clearly shows he is not fit to handle this critical issue,” Koomson added.
The GFL insists that immediate and more aggressive action is needed to curb illegal mining and save Ghana’s natural resources, urging the government to reconsider its stance and take the necessary steps to restore the country’s environmental integrity.