Illegal mining: We cannot afford to lose our precious natural resources to the greed of few individuals – Mahama

Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has called for a collaborative effort to fight the menace of illegal mining (galamsey) in the country.

Speaking at the ‘3rd Annual Transformational Dialogue on Small-scale Mining’ organised by the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Sunyani on Wednesday, May 15, the former president said Ghanaians cannot afford to watch as the country’s natural resources are plundered and communities suffer the consequences.

He said the country must chart a new path in the fight against illegal mining to ensure precious natural resources are not lost to the greed of some few individuals.

“Our rivers and lands have been polluted, our forests destroyed, and our people are without clean water and fertile land. We cannot allow illegal mining to continue unchecked, and we must chart a new vision for our country’s mining industry that prioritises sustainable development and responsible mining practices.

“In our own country, we have witnessed the destruction caused by illegal mining in places like the Ankobra and Pra Rivers. We have seen the devastation caused by illegal mining in the Atewa Forest Reserve, home to endangered species and vital to our country’s water supply. We cannot afford to lose these precious natural resources to the greed of a few individuals,” John Dramani Mahama said.

The former President in his address said Ghana must look at both local examples and global incidents to inform the right approach to curb illegal mining in the country.

He assured that this is what his government will do when he is voted president again.