The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey has reiterated its firm stance on demanding decisive and immediate action to combat the ongoing crisis of illegal mining, which continues to devastate the country’s forests and water bodies.
In a press statement issued today, the Coalition expressed deep concern over the government’s inadequate response to their demands and emphasized the urgent need for more concrete measures to tackle the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.
The Coalition expressed regret that despite continued public outcry and extensive documentation of the detrimental effects of illegal mining on Ghana’s natural resources, the government’s efforts have significantly fallen short of addressing the root causes of the crisis.
“While some commitments have been acknowledged, they fail to fully address the core demands presented by members of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey needed to address the situation as a pressing issue of our time.”
Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey outlined several key areas where the government’s response has been inadequate. Among the primary demands of the Coalition is the“Declaration of a state of emergency” to address the crisis.
The group believes that only through such a declaration can the government effectively halt both legal and illegal mining operations in critical areas such as Forest Reserves (FRs) and water bodies.
However, despite the severity of the environmental degradation caused by galamsey, this call has not been heeded.
“We firmly believe that declaring a state of emergency is the critical first step to addressing this menace.
“Without this, any interventions implemented so far are insufficient and fail to curb the destructive impact of mining activities on our forests and rivers.”
Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey
The Coalition also highlighted the government’s failure to meet its demand for a “Complete cessation of mining activities” in Forest Reserves and water bodies. Despite calls for the immediate revocation of licenses granted for both legal and illegal mining in these sensitive areas, no firm action has been taken to date.
The government’s temporary suspension of enforcement related to mining regulations, specifically L.I. 2462, falls short of the total revocation demanded by environmental advocates, leaving gaps in enforcement that continue to jeopardize the nation’s ecosystems.
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey also raised concerns about the government’s lack of decisive action to “Evacuate mining equipment and enforce the law” strictly in areas affected by illegal mining.
Although military personnel have been redeployed to assist in law enforcement efforts, the Coalition pointed out that these actions have been limited in scope.
“The redeployment of military personnel is a positive step, but it is far from the holistic approach needed to address the problem.
“We have yet to see the full evacuation of illegal mining equipment, and without this, illegal mining will persist, and so will the destruction of our environment.”
Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey
‘Red Band Campaign’
In light of the government’s inadequate response, the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey announced the launch of a “Red Band Campaign” starting today, 10th October, calling on all Ghanaians to rally behind the movement.
The campaign encourages citizens to wear red bands as a symbol of their collective demand for immediate and decisive action against illegal mining. The Coalition emphasized the importance of public support in putting pressure on the government to address the crisis with the urgency it requires.
“The Red Band Campaign is a visual representation of our demand for action. We will continue to monitor government efforts, apply pressure, and ensure that commitments made are not ignored.
“The time for vague promises is over; we need clear timelines, indicators, and results.”
Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey
The Coalition also called for the “Publication of clear timelines and measurable indicators” to ensure that government actions are progressive and not ad-hoc.
According to the Coalition, the lack of a structured approach has characterized government efforts in the past, resulting in temporary measures that fail to create lasting change.
The Coalition emphasized that piecemeal solutions and half-hearted efforts would not suffice in the fight against galamsey. Only through swift, comprehensive, and well-coordinated measures can the government hope to curb the illegal mining operations that continue to ravage Ghana’s natural environment.
