President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed the Defence Minister to deploy additional military forces to strengthen the fight against illegal mining.
In a statement released on October 9, 2024, the Presidency announced a ramped-up operation that includes the deployment of naval boats on polluted rivers to immediately halt all mining activities, legal or illegal.
Further, it stated that this expanded military effort is part of “Operation Halt,” a government initiative targeting illegal mining near water bodies and forest reserves.
The move comes in response to increasing pressure from organised labour, which had demanded swift action to end illegal mining, citing its devastating impact on the environment, particularly on water bodies.
Following the government’s announcement, Organised Labour suspended its planned strike, initially scheduled for October 10, 2024, after an emergency meeting held on October 9, 2024.
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