The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) has launched a blistering critique of President John Dramani Mahama’s handling of the country’s illegal mining crisis, accusing him of downplaying the scale of what it described as an “environmental emergency” that is threatening Ghana’s future.
The coalition’s reaction follows the President’s remarks during the Presidential Media Encounter at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, where he defended his administration’s approach to tackling illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
In a response after the event, GCAG described the President’s comments as “uninspiring” and lacking urgency, insisting that his tone and policy position do not reflect the gravity of the crisis.
The coalition said, “The President’s statement did not convey the urgency required in the fight to rid this country of environmental terrorism,” adding that his stance risked emboldening illegal miners while eroding public confidence in government action.
Responding to calls for the declaration of a state of emergency, President Mahama argued that existing legislation already provides his administration with sufficient authority to clamp down on illegal miners without resorting to emergency measures.
But GCAG sharply disagreed, warning that the President’s “posture downplays a crisis that has polluted over 60% of waterbodies with heavy metals, displaced thousands of farmers, and devastated forest reserves.”
The coalition accused the government of failing to appreciate the severity of the situation, pointing to what it called “unprecedented environmental terrorism” that has left vast stretches of cocoa farmland destroyed and rivers poisoned.
Police Withdrawal Criticised
The group also pushed back on the President’s claim that police and security forces had struggled to differentiate between legal and illegal miners, which contributed to the withdrawal of personnel.
“Though not perfect, the police had brought the situation under control. We challenge the Presidency to name a single licensed small-scale mining entity operating responsibly.”
Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG)
According to GCAG, the decision to pull back police operations was “misplaced” and has allowed illegal miners to regroup, worsening the destruction of Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves.
While acknowledging the government’s launch of the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme for Small-Scale Miners (NAELP, also referred to as NAIMOS), the coalition questioned whether the initiative has been adequately resourced or structured to deliver meaningful change.
The President had argued during the media encounter that alternatives must be provided to illegal miners before a full-scale crackdown could be enforced. But GCAG dismissed this reasoning as dangerous.
“To say alternatives must be provided before cracking down is to justify and embolden illegality at a time when Ghana is grappling with threats to its cocoa exports, long-term health consequences, and rising environmental degradation.”
Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG)
Leadership Under Scrutiny
GCAG expressed frustration at what it sees as a gap between President Mahama’s current position and his earlier advocacy while in opposition, when he supported calls for a state of emergency in affected regions.
“This is not the leadership expected for a country facing environmental suicide… We are disappointed. This government is failing us.”
Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG)
The coalition pointed to fresh evidence of the worsening crisis, citing recent findings by the Ghana Water Company Limited, which reported extreme turbidity levels at the Kwanyarko Water Treatment Plant.
Turbidity there had reached an astonishing 32,000 NTU, forcing the facility’s closure, a decision later endorsed by the Central Regional Minister.
GCAG announced that it will hold a Comprehensive Media Briefing on Monday, September 15, 2025, at the International Press Center, where it plans to present a detailed account of its position and outline specific proposals for addressing the crisis.
The coalition has hinted that it will push for a targeted state of emergency in galamsey-affected regions, stricter enforcement of mining laws, and greater accountability from both political leaders and mining regulators.
For now, the group insists that the President’s approach is inadequate and risks entrenching the very problems his administration claims to be addressing.
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