Galamsey: Eco-Conscious Citizens renew call for state of emergency

Eco-Conscious Citizens, along with other concerned groups and citizens, have urged the Ghanaian government to declare a state of emergency to combat the devastating effects of illegal mining and ecocide in the country. The call to action comes after the recent attack on journalist Erastus Asare Donkor and his team, who were assaulted by heavily armed men protecting illegal miners. This incident has raised serious national security concerns, with reports of national security operatives retreating due to the superior weaponry of the illegal miners. “We cannot stand idly by whilst private armies have been formed to enforce ecocide and threaten the security of the state,” the group stated. “We cannot through Government inaction head towards a failed state. We have to act now – before our security concerns worsen, and God forbid, result in civil war.” Eco-Conscious Citizens is demanding that the government take immediate action to address the issue, including declaring a state of emergency in line with section 31 and 31 (4) of the 1992 constitution to fight environmental terrorists. The group also calls for the repeal of L.I. 2462, ensuring no mining or logging in protected forest reserves or globally significant biodiversity areas, and the revocation of licences granted for mining in forest reserves. Additionally, Eco-Conscious Citizens demands a pause on small-scale/community mining and a halt to the issuance of new licences, as well as a robust investigation into persons named in Prof. Frimpong Boateng’s report. The group warns that unregulated mining is causing increased kidney disease, cancers, neurological challenges, maternal deaths, stillbirths, birth defects, and loss of livelihood for fishermen and peasant farmers.Eco-Conscious Citizens has also called on Organised Labour to give the government seven days to declare a state of emergency, failing which the national strike will resume. “The President, Parliament and the National Security apparatus must be resolute and decisive in dealing with the environmental terrorists now! God is not mocked. Voters should be wary of parties or persons who are reluctant to sign up to ending the ongoing ecocide,” the statement noted.

Source: metrotvonline