The galamsey menace has once again taken center stage in Ghana’s national discourse, with Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, calling on the government to move beyond endless dialogue and take bold, decisive action.
His comments come ahead of a high-level engagement between civil society organisations (CSOs) and the government at the Jubilee House on Friday, October 3, 2025.
President John Dramani Mahama extended the invitation to leading CSOs for what is being described as a landmark meeting aimed at finding sustainable solutions to the environmental and social destruction caused by illegal mining.
Scheduled for 12:00 noon, the dialogue is expected to bring together civil society leaders, policymakers, and government officials.
While welcoming the renewed focus on galamsey, Cudjoe expressed skepticism about the purpose and timing of the meeting. “I want to believe it’s not going to be a talkshop, because I think what we need right now is action,” he remarked.
For him, the time for symbolic gestures has long passed, and the country cannot afford to treat the matter as just another forum for exchanging views.
Cudjoe further questioned whether the government was genuinely interested in new ideas or simply seeking to project solidarity with civil society.
“Frankly, I don’t understand why the meeting is being held. I don’t know whether it’s meant to ask for our views or opinions on what else to do,” he stated, adding that it remained unclear if the administration was serious about implementing fresh strategies.
“Maybe the President wants to hear whatever we have to say. But we’ve been having front-facing discussions ever since this matter came to the fore. Even the NDC during the last election campaigned vigorously against the menace.”
Franklin Cudjoe
For him, the issue has reached a tipping point where practical interventions must take precedence over rhetoric.
A State Of Emergency?
As pressure mounts on the government to confront galamsey head-on, some activists and commentators have suggested declaring a state of emergency in affected areas.
However, Cudjoe warned against such blanket measures, describing them as impractical and politically difficult to enforce.
“Apart from this whole idea of declaring a state of emergency, frankly speaking, I’m beginning to think we can’t have a total blanket state of emergency like that. We need to put things into proper perspective.”
Franklin Cudjoe
While acknowledging the urgency of the crisis, he emphasized that interventions must be tailored, pragmatic, and mindful of local contexts. A one-size-fits-all approach, he argued, risks alienating communities and undermining the broader fight against illegal mining.
Meanwhile, the upcoming meeting at the Jubilee House has been framed by the government as a crucial platform for “frank and constructive discussions.”
Officials say the dialogue will harness the collective expertise of CSOs, policymakers, and researchers to map out sustainable strategies for tackling galamsey.
Illegal mining has for years left a trail of devastation across the country, polluting rivers, degrading forests, and threatening food security.
It has also worsened public health risks, with mercury and cyanide contaminating farmlands and drinking water in many communities. The stakes, observers say, are higher than ever.
The government insists the October 3 engagement represents a turning point in how the crisis is handled. But critics like Cudjoe argue that without concrete steps, the meeting could become yet another symbolic exercise that adds little to the fight against galamsey.
Civil Society’s Role In The Galamsey Fight
For CSOs, the meeting is both an opportunity and a test. Many groups have long called for stronger regulation, tougher enforcement, and community-based approaches to eliminate illegal mining.
They have also urged the government to balance environmental protection with livelihoods, ensuring that small-scale miners are not driven into poverty but instead guided into formal, regulated operations.
The challenge lies in whether the government will act on these recommendations or continue to convene discussions without meaningful follow-through. For Cudjoe, Ghana cannot afford to tread water while its rivers turn brown and fertile farmlands are poisoned.
He stressed that the credibility of both government and civil society hinges on whether the dialogue produces measurable outcomes.
The expectation, he insisted, should be clear: concrete policies, decisive enforcement, and a national commitment to end the galamsey menace once and for all.
As the clock ticks down to Friday’s meeting, all eyes are on the Jubilee House. Whether it marks the beginning of a new chapter in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, or becomes another entry in a long line of talkshops, remains to be seen.
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