Ghana CSOs Platform urges immediate action against galamsey, supports Organised Labour strike

The Ghana Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Platform on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has raised serious concerns about the alarming levels of illegal mining popularly known as galamsey and its devastating impact on the country’s efforts to achieve the SDGs.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition and Co-Chair of the CSOs SDGs Platform, highlighted the urgent need for government intervention.

She pointed out that galamsey is undermining all aspects of the SDGs, jeopardizing rural livelihoods, public health, food security, and the sustainability of natural resources.

Mrs. Narteh called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to take swift and decisive action by revoking Legislative Instrument (LI) 2426 and withdrawing all licenses for reconnaissance, prospecting, exploration, and mining in forests and protected reserves.

The platform also urged the government to enforce existing laws against illegal mining, prevent mining activities in water bodies and forest reserves, and fully implement the buffer zone policy to protect natural resources.

In a show of solidarity, the platform also expressed support for the organised labour strike scheduled for October 10, which aims to pressure government to halt illegal mining operations.

Mrs. Narteh called on all CSO members and affiliates to back the strike, stressing the importance of collective action to compel the government to protect the environment and ensure sustainable development.

Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, convenor of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, further underscored the dire consequences of galamsey on both human health and the environment.

He noted a sharp increase in renal diseases, spontaneous abortions, and birth defects, while water bodies continue to be destroyed, and jobs in the fishing industry are rapidly disappearing.

Ashigbey described the situation as worse than the COVID-19 pandemic and criticized the government’s response as insufficient.

He urged the President to invoke Article 31 and declare a state of emergency to address the crisis urgently.

According to him, the government's proposals to tackle galamsey have been inadequate, and without concrete action, the country faces grave consequences.

“Galamsey’s impact is wide-reaching, affecting the environment, human health, and the economy. The time for dialogue has passed. We need decisive action now to save our nation from the brink of environmental collapse,” Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey stressed.