Gov’t responses on galamsey fall short of the expected interventions needed — Coalition Against Galamsey

The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey has expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s responses to the ongoing illegal mining crisis, commonly referred to as “galamsey,” stating that the interventions thus far have been insufficient.

In a press statement issued on October 10, the Coalition emphasized that critical demands, including the declaration of a state of emergency and the cessation of mining in protected areas, remain unmet, prompting the launch of a nationwide “Red Band Campaign” to press for more decisive action.

“We regrettably note that the government’s responses to these demands, as outlined in their statements thus far, significantly fall short of the expected interventions needed, leaving crucial concerns unmet,” said Kenneth Ashigbey, leading member of the Coalition, in the statement.

The Coalition outlined six key demands aimed at addressing the escalating environmental and social damage caused by illegal mining.

Key among them was the call for the government to declare a state of emergency in mining-affected areas, including forest reserves and water bodies.

According to the Coalition, this would enable authorities to halt both legal and illegal mining activities in sensitive areas, an essential step to preventing further environmental degradation.

“Despite the urgency of the situation, the government has not declared a state of emergency as demanded by our coalition. This critical step is essential to effectively halt both legal and illegal mining operations,” the statement emphasized.

They further criticized the government for failing to impose a complete cessation of all mining activities in forest reserves and water bodies.

While some enforcement measures have been taken, such as the redeployment of military personnel to affected areas, the Coalition argued that these efforts are inadequate.

“The government’s suspension of enforcement related to mining regulations (LI2462) is a far cry from the demanded revocation, leaving loopholes that continue to endanger Ghana’s environment,” the statement added.

The Coalition also reiterated its demand for the evacuation of all mining equipment from protected areas and called for stricter law enforcement to combat the illegal miners and their backers.