Rivers and forests can't speak, let's speak for them to stop galamsey - GBA President

President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Mrs. Efua Ghartey, has raised serious concerns over the surge in excavator imports into Ghana, questioning the business activities driving such demand.

Addressing the 2025 annual bar conference in Wa, Upper West Region, on Monday, September 15, she cited a recent report that painted a troubling picture.

"We were informed by a recent media report that Ghana imports the highest number of excavators in West Africa, and the second highest number in all of Africa," she said.

Mrs. Ghartey wondered what legitimate enterprise in Ghana could justify such high levels of importation. "If indeed that is the case, one may ask, what thriving business in Ghana requires the importation of such huge numbers of excavators," she questioned.

She warned that powerful interests may be hiding behind privilege to perpetuate impunity, stressing that lawyers cannot remain silent.

"If entrenched interests hide behind status and privilege, then we as lawyers have a moral duty to strip away the impunity that shields them. The rivers of Ghana cannot speak, the forest cannot do likewise, but we as custodians of justice must raise our voices on their behalf," she declared.