GAWU Urges State of Emergency to Combat Galamsey’s Impact on Agriculture

The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Ghana has called on the government to declare a state of emergency to combat the devastating effects of illegal mining, or galamsey, on Ghana’s agriculture.
In a press statement issued and copied to the Ghanaian Times , the union urged the government to take immediate action to reclaim destroyed farmlands, restore polluted water bodies, and save the livelihoods of farmers affected by galamsey operations.
The union’s statement, signed by its General Secretary, Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe, expressed deep concern over the rampant encroachment on cocoa and oil palm farms.
It revealed that illegal miners have destroyed over 100,000 acres of cocoa farms and 30,000 acres of oil palm plantations, threatening the nation’s food security and economic stability.
The ongoing pollution of water bodies and destruction of farmlands, the group said, has led to a sharp decline in agricultural production, with grave implications for both the local market and export potential.
GAWU criticised the government for its slow response, calling for immediate action against individuals and groups involved in the destruction of farmlands for galamsey.
They warned that failure to act would exacerbate unemployment, food insecurity, and health risks for vulnerable communities, particularly women and children, due to exposure to harmful chemicals used in illegal mining.
In their call to action, the union demanded that the government support alternative livelihoods for those displaced by galamsey and ensure swift prosecution of those responsible for destroying agricultural lands. “Ghana’s agriculture is on its knees, and immediate, decisive action is required to save the sector,” the statement said.
GAWU also mentioned that without urgent government intervention, the country’s agricultural sector risks collapse, undermining not only food production but also Ghana’s economic growth.
The statement also noted the broader implications of illegal mining on biodiversity and the long-term sustainability of agricultural lands.
The union rallied other agricultural establishments and civil society groups to join the fight against galamsey, warning that inaction would lead to dire consequences for the entire nation.

BY RAISSA SAMBOU