Coalition urges government to declare state of emergency over galamsey
The coalition emphasized the urgent need for military intervention to expel individuals engaged in mining activities directly within water bodies, warning that such operations pose a serious risk to public health and environmental sustainability.
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The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) has once again urged President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency in response to the alarming levels of water pollution caused by illegal mining, widely known as galamsey.
The coalition emphasized the urgent need for military intervention to expel individuals engaged in mining activities directly within water bodies, warning that such operations pose a serious risk to public health and environmental sustainability.
In a statement released yesterday, signed by GCAG Convenor Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the group called on the government to revoke all existing and proposed mining concessions that encroach on river buffer zones.
The coalition also recommended an immediate ban on all mining activities within a 100-meter perimeter of rivers and streams. It further stressed that any violation of this directive should be met with strict enforcement of Act 995, regardless of political or social influence.
Recognizing that many key water sources originate from forest reserves, GCAG also urged authorities to annul permits permitting mining in protected Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs).
Efforts to curb illegal mining have spanned several years. In 2017, the previous administration launched a large-scale crackdown on galamsey, deploying security forces in an attempt to eradicate the practice. Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo famously vowed to end illegal mining, even at the risk of his presidency.
Despite significant financial and logistical investments in the fight against galamsey, illegal mining activities surged, particularly towards the end of 2024.
In September 2024, GCAG—a coalition comprising media organizations, labor unions, civil society groups, businesses, academics, professional bodies, religious institutions, and youth groups—renewed calls for decisive government intervention. A key demand was for the President to declare a state of emergency and take stringent measures to address unregulated small-scale mining.
Amid mounting public pressure, the government suspended the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2462), which had permitted mining in forest reserves under presidential approval. The coalition's advocacy also influenced the government’s decision to deploy 100 military personnel to protect key water bodies and enforce the arrest of illegal miners.
Additionally, as the 2024 elections approached, GCAG successfully secured commitments from eight presidential candidates, including the incumbent, to prioritize tackling illegal mining.
Despite ongoing efforts, GCAG remains alarmed by the increasing scale of illegal mining and what it perceives as a lack of decisive action. Dr. Ashigbey highlighted that illegal miners have exploited leadership gaps and governmental inaction, leading to severe environmental devastation.
He referenced recent tragic incidents in Ntrotroso and Obuasi as clear indicators of the pressing need for intervention. While the coalition acknowledged President Mahama’s directive for an independent inquiry into these events, it reiterated that galamsey continues to pose a major threat to national security and social stability.
Although the government has pledged to tackle illegal mining within its first 120 days in office, the coalition expressed concerns about the slow pace of implementation. GCAG confirmed that it had formally communicated with the President, urging an immediate cease-and-desist order for all illegal mining activities and a directive to regulatory bodies to enforce compliance.
Continued Advocacy
GCAG reaffirmed its commitment to pushing for stronger action against galamsey, announcing plans to introduce further initiatives in the coming weeks to press for meaningful government intervention.
The coalition urged all Ghanaians and political leaders to stay committed to the fight against illegal mining, stressing that addressing the crisis is more urgent than ever.