Coalition demands emergency action to stop galamsey
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey is urging the government to declare a state of emergency in areas devastated by illegal mining, citing escalating environmental destruction and growing threats to public health and livelihoods.
According to the Coalition, the scale of damage to Ghana’s rivers, forests, and farmlands has reached a crisis point that requires urgent and decisive state intervention.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, Lead Convener Kenneth Ashigbey described the situation as dire and unsustainable.
“What we are seeing is not just an environmental problem, it is a national security emergency. Our rivers are poisoned, our forests are vanishing, and our children are playing on contaminated land. If this is not an emergency, then what is?” he said.
Mr. Ashigbey emphasized that only a comprehensive and law-backed response — including the declaration of a state of emergency, would provide security agencies with the authority and resources needed to root out illegal mining operators and dismantle the powerful networks that support them.
“We are calling on the President to show bold leadership. We cannot continue to treat galamsey as business as usual while entire communities are destroyed,” he added.
The Coalition has long campaigned for stronger action against illegal mining, warning that continued inaction risks irreversible ecological damage, food insecurity, and rising conflict over land and water.
It cited the alarming state of key water bodies like the Pra, Ankobra, Offin, and Birim rivers, many of which have turned brown from heavy metals and silt due to dredging and mercury pollution from unregulated mining.
In addition to the state of emergency, the Coalition is demanding greater political will and full prosecution of all offenders, including influential individuals who shield or benefit from illegal mining activities.
“We know that many of these operations are backed by powerful people; politicians, chiefs, foreign actors. It is time to send a clear message that no one is above the law,” Mr. Ashigbey stressed.
He also called for the publication of the names of arrested illegal miners and their sponsors, saying the fight against galamsey will fail unless enforcement is transparent and consistent.
The Coalition further recommended coordinated operations among the military, police, Forestry Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Water Resources Commission — supported by funding, logistics, and community intelligence.
Experts warn that if illegal mining is not urgently addressed, Ghana could face catastrophic consequences, including the collapse of water supply systems, destruction of arable land, and increased healthcare costs from pollution-related illnesses.
“We are losing our future for short-term gains. Let’s stop talking and start acting, our survival depends on it,” Mr. Ashigbey stressed.. The Coalition says it will submit a formal petition to the President and Parliament in the coming days and is calling on civil society, faith-based groups, and the media to intensify pressure for meaningful action.
