Pressure group, OccupyGhana, has asked President Akufo-Addo to immediately declare a state of emergency in all mining areas in the country.
To them, this will help the President and his government streamline mining activities in the country.
In a press release issued on Monday, it urged President Akufo-Addo to seek advice from the Council of State before publishing a Gazette on same.
“We, therefore, request that you take immediate steps towards declaring a state of emergency in every mining area in Ghana.
The release from OccupyGhana
“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,” the group urged.
Meanwhile, it has also asked Parliament to be recalled from its vacation for it to pass the state of emergency.
“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,” the release added.
The press release added 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.
“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”, the press release stated.
Source: yagbonradioonline
