Representatives of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey and Senyo Hosi have raised critical concerns with the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources regarding the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Their demands include an investigation into politically affiliated mining companies, declaring a state of emergency for nine forest reserves impacted by illegal mining, addressing security threats posed by galamsey operations, and probing how illegal miners acquire firearms, among other issues.
Dr Ashigbey emphasised that the fight against illegal mining has been undermined by the involvement of high-profile politicians.
He argued that holding these individuals accountable is essential for the government to successfully combat illegal mining.
“Unless these influential figures are brought to justice, the fight against galamsey will remain an uphill battle,” he stated.
Dr Ashigbey also proposed convening an urgent roundtable discussion on galamsey to address the root causes, deliberate on solutions, and engage the public.
He stressed the need for a collaborative approach, involving all stakeholders to tackle the crisis effectively.
Reiterating the issues raised, Senyo Hosi urged the Minister to act swiftly while fostering public engagement.
“We need active participation, starting with monitoring the turbidity levels of our water bodies. Honest reviews of the situation and transparent communication are crucial to keeping the public informed and involved,” he added.
Reaffirming the Coalition’s commitment, he said, “Our support is impartial we stand for Ghana, not for any political party. We are fully committed to assisting the President in the fight against galamsey.”
However, he noted that the Coalition requires more information on ongoing efforts to effectively support the government and help the Ministry communicate progress to the public.
In response, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah welcomed the Coalition and commended their dedication to the cause.
He outlined the government’s initiatives to combat illegal mining, including ongoing engagements with key stakeholders, seizures of equipment, some arrests, and reclamation of some forest reserves and others.
Mr Buah also revealed upcoming measures, such as the Blue Water Initiative: recruitment and training of River Guards, the Tree for Life Reforestation Initiative, aimed at rehabilitating areas severely degraded by illegal mining, among others
“To ensure a unified approach, the government plans to decentralize the fight against galamsey by engaging Regional Security agency heads, District Chief Executives (DCEs), Regional Ministers, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology. We cannot do this alone, so we are getting all hands on deck.”
The Minister further disclosed that his team has already gathered significant information to address issues surrounding mining licenses.
“A rigorous inspection regime will be implemented to review and revoke licenses of companies engaged in illegal activities. This process will help weed out bad actors,” he added.
Mr Buah assured the Coalition of the government’s commitment to resolving the crisis but emphasized the need for collective support.
“Help us, work with us, and give us the time and opportunity to deliver effective results,” he urged.
