President John Dramani Mahama has invoked the wrath of groups and individuals who are calling for drastic measures to be taken in the fight against galamsey following his comments during his maiden Presidential Media Encounter.
The latest to join the barrage of criticisms is the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG), which has launched a blistering critique of the president’s posture on illegal mining, accusing him of downplaying what they describe as “unprecedented environmental terrorism” threatening the country’s future.
The president, in response to questions posed by the media, suggested that until alternative livelihoods are found for the illegal miners, he is not in support of any drastic and forceful measures such as declaring a state of emergency on the menace.
In a strongly worded statement to react to the President’s remarks, the coalition said his statement failed to convey urgency at a time when more than 60% of Ghana’s waterbodies are polluted with heavy metals, farmers are being displaced from food and cash crop lands, and forest reserves lie devastated.
Moreover, the President’s decision to withdraw police forces from mining sites, citing their inability to distinguish legal from illegal miners, drew sharp condemnation.
“His withdrawal of police forces and accusation that they cannot distinguish legal from illegal miners is misplaced. The IGP’s men, though not perfect, were fearless and had brought the situation under control,” the statement noted.
Even more damning was their challenge to the presidency to “name a single licensed small-scale mining entity that is mining responsibly on the ground.” This, they argue, exposes the hollowness of the government’s justification that miners must be provided alternatives before any crackdown.
“We challenge the Presidency to name a single licensed small-scale mining entity that is mining responsibly on the ground. We welcome NAIMOS, but have we resourced them sufficiently to deal decisively as needed?, it quizzed.
The coalition is concerned that such rhetoric risks emboldening illegality, turning Ghana’s fight against galamsey into a losing battle.
“This is not the leadership expected for a country facing environmental suicide, contaminated cocoa exports, and rising health crises now and for our newborns,” the coalition noted, questioning the President’s commitment to drastically fight the menace.
The stakes are already dire for most Ghanaians. Polluted rivers mean more money spent on buying treated water. Even the Ghana Water Company is demanding a 280% increase in its tariff due to the high pollution caused by galamsey, making water treatment highly expensive.
Displaced farmers translate into higher food prices in markets. Contaminated cocoa risks foreign exchange losses. And devastated forests mean the vanishing of climate resilience at a time of growing drought and flooding.
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey insists that without bold, consistent leadership, Ghana risks mortgaging its environment and economic survival to the short-term gains of galamsey.
