President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining has refuted allegations Organised Labour demanded money to call off its intended protest.
The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, alleged that Organised Labour’s leadership demanded money to call off the strike which is in protest against illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as galamsey.
President Akufo-Addo announced the establishment of the five-member committee with Albert Kan-Dapaah, as the chairman to be assisted by four other ministers.
Organised Labour gave the government up to the end of September to ban all forms of mining else its members will embark on a nationwide strike.
A September 19 statement signed by the committee’s chairman described the allegations as “baseless and unfounded” and urged the public to disregard such allegations.
“The Committee hereby calls on the public to disregard the claims as same are baseless and unfounded. No such demand has been made and no such payment has been made either,” the statement read.
The statement further indicated that the committee’s engagement with the leadership of Organised Labour were held in good faith, without any inducements.
“The engagement between the Committee and Organised Labour was held in good faith and without inducement,” Hon. Kan-Dapaah assured.
“We entreat the public to disregard such false claims,” the statement concluded, assuring that the Committee would continue its efforts to combat illegal mining.
