The pressure group, OccupyGhana has that the unprecedented and rampant extent of unregulated and illegal mining has reached the point where the nation is at the edge of losing its essence.
“The illegal mining likely to deprive the community of the essentials of life; or 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 supplies and services essential to the life of the community.”
In a press statement released yesterday October 3, 2022, the nation risks “losing our very essence unless immediate and radical action is taken” noting that government stops all unregulated and illegal mining “and then put a process in place to regulate artisanal mining, going forward.”
The pressure group, therefore, recommended that Akufo-Addo takes immediate steps toward declaring a state of emergency in every mining area in Ghana.
“Per 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),” the statement said.
It, therefore, added that it is committed to rendering suggestions and proposals on how to establish a properly regulated artisanal mining industry in the country.
