No amount of Gold worth is Ghanaians' Lives - TUC Vice chair

Accra- Ghana - Government's reluctance to ban small-scale mining despite devastating environmental and health impacts has sparked outrage among stakeholders.

Ken Tweneboah Kodua, Vice Chairman of the Trades Union Congress, has lambasted the government's stance, insisting that economic concerns should not take precedence over human lives. 

Speaking on Newsfile on JoyFM on Saturday, Kodua emphasized that the government's priorities are misplaced, stressing that no amount of revenue from gold is worth the lives of Ghanaians.

“Are we putting our lives and all the things at stake just on foreign exchange? Is that what the government is saying when we have the danger of Ghanaians losing their lives due to the chemicals being used?"

“When we have the danger of not having water to drink when the food that we are eating is being polluted with these chemicals. I think this argument is far bloated out,” he said.

In a scathing critique, Kodua emphasized that the true cost of gold mining far outweighs any revenue generated, citing the irreparable harm caused to citizens and the environment.

“What will be the use when the money is in and we have a lot of burden? I think that argument for me is not right. The government must listen to the people, lives are at stake,” he said.

He called for an immediate halt to all mining activities, pending a comprehensive audit to root out irresponsible operators and ensure that only legitimate license holders are permitted to continue.

“You can’t say that because of the foreign exchange or because others have licenses - we know of those who have licenses and yet polluting the same water and depleting forest reserves.

“So TUC or Organised Labour, our call is clear, you must halt everything and then come and let’s see how we can make progress,” he added.

The Trades Union Congress's stance comes as the government faces mounting pressure to address the environmental and health impacts of illegal mining, also known as galamsey.

Source: Lead News Online