The Convener of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has issued a passionate call for action, urging President Mahama and political leaders to take decisive steps in addressing the menace of illegal mining.
In his remarks, he lamented the continued degradation of Ghana’s water bodies and natural resources, emphasizing that mere rhetoric without concrete action will not yield the desired results. He noted;
“Well, the challenge we faced from August last year to date has not abated. It is interesting to note that since the government came in—even before the government came in—we saw that transitioning that happened in 2016, 2017, where the criminals in the NDC government were taken over by the criminals in the NPP government and started the illegality. I call them criminals because they engage in an illegality.’’
Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey Convener of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey
Dr. Ashigbey’s comments reflect deep frustration with successive governments’ failure to curb galamsey, a practice that continues to poison Ghana’s rivers and deplete its natural resources.
Dr. Ashibey highlighted that despite numerous pronouncements from the Mahama government, the situation on the ground has only worsened. He lamented;
“The turbidity of the water has not improved. The Bonsa Water Treatment Plant has actually been shuttered down. And the issues about the poisoning from heavy metals is continuing. Unlike corruption, where His Excellency got OSP in place and they were acting, then you come to the issue of energy where John Jinapor and his team worked on it. You come to education where there was no food in the senior high schools, and we saw some action.
”All we have been hearing is a lot of talk …. we wrote to the President to issue the cease and desist. But you need to accompany that rhetoric with a lot of action.”
Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey Convener of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey
Dr. Ashigbey called for urgent measures to combat galamsey, emphasizing that without visible, firm action, the situation would persist. He added;
“One of the major reasons for the failure of the former government was because the firefighters themselves became the arsonists. Those we had put into power to regulate this particular activity were actually involved in it.”
Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey Convener of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey
He cited specific examples of government officials who had been implicated in illegal mining activities. He cited;
“The NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairperson was named by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for being involved in an illegality of which we had a lot of evidence. When I sat on the same platform with His Excellency, the President, in Koforidua, and I confronted him about what he was doing about Akonta Mining, because that was his Ashanti Regional Chairman, what he said to me was that he [the regional Chairman] was not engaged in galamsey as we spoke.”
“We also saw the example of the DCE for Bosome Freho, who was also engaged in an illegality and confessed that he was engaged in an illegality. All we saw was the fact that he had been dismissed.”
Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey Convener of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey
Dr. Ashigbey stressed that until the government sets clear and firm examples by punishing political figures involved in galamsey, the fight against illegal mining will remain futile.
The Role of Law Enforcement and the Judiciary
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey has been actively petitioning authorities to take action against individuals involved in illegal mining. However, Dr. Ashigbey expressed frustration over the lack of results. He noted that despite presenting strong evidence, cases against illegal miners, especially politically connected individuals, were not being pursued rigorously. He charged;
“We are going back again to the IGP because that case—the case of Akonta Mining—there was this evidence from even the Forestry Commission and all of that. So, it is important that action is taken. His Excellency, the President, had mentioned a particular statement he made, which I disagree with, about the clemency for all of those who had been jailed for galamsey.”
“The kingpins themselves are not being arrested. And so, the President needs to demonstrate that when we mention a politically exposed person engaged in that, I am hoping that before even our petition as private citizens, His Excellency, the President, would take action.”
Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey Convener of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey
He called on the government to act swiftly on cases where evidence had already been presented, including those investigated by Professor Frimpong-Boateng.
The Futility of Giving Galamsey Operators Time to Stop
The Ashanti Regional Minister’s approach to handling galamsey also came under criticism. Dr. Ashigbey condemned the two-week ultimatum given to illegal miners to halt operations, describing it as counterproductive.
He argued that by giving illegal miners time to stop their activities, the government was essentially allowing them to destroy evidence and escape accountability.
Dr. Ashigbey’ perspective on the matter raised a critical question—will political leaders, especially President John Mahama, be willing to stake their presidency on ending galamsey? He challenged the new government to take a firmer stand against illegal mining and commit to real enforcement of the law.
The fight against galamsey requires more than just talk—it demands bold leadership, decisive action, and political will. The future of Ghana’s environment depends on it.
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