Mahama told to declare state of emergency over galamsey

The Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining has issued a strong call for President John Mahama to declare a state of emergency over Ghana’s water bodies.
They argue that only immediate military intervention can halt illegal mining activities that continue to degrade the nation’s vital water resources.
According to the Coalition, bold action is essential to protect these resources from further devastation.
The Coalition has urged the President to abrogate all planned and active mining concessions overlapping with river buffer zones, order cessation of all mining activities within a 100-meter buffer of rivers and streams and full implementation of Act 995 without regard for political affiliations or the social status of violators.

Environmental and ecological concerns
The Coalition also stressed that Ghana’s water bodies largely originate from forest reserves. Consequently, they are demanding the revocation of all entry permits granted for mining activities within globally significant biodiversity areas (GSBAs).
This step, they argue, is crucial to safeguard the country’s ecological balance.

Deterioration in water quality
The urgency of this call to action has been heightened by recent reports from the Ghana Water Company Limited.
In August 2024, the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant recorded turbidity levels of 14,000 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU).
This figure far exceeds the World Health Organization’s permissible maximum of 5 NTU for safe water processing, underlining the severe threat illegal mining poses to public health and clean water access.

Unified advocacy against galamsey
In September 2024, the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey was formed, comprising various stakeholders, including media organisations, labour unions, civil society groups, business entities, academics, and faith-based organisations. This coalition was established to create a unified voice in the fight against illegal mining.

Their initial efforts saw some successes including the suspension of the operationalisation of L.I. 2462, the deployment of 100 military personnel to protect selected water bodies and the signing of a pledge to combat galamsey by eight presidential candidates, including President Mahama, during the 2024 national elections.

Resurgence of Illegal Mining
Despite these strides, illegal mining activities have intensified following the December 2024 elections. Many perpetrators have taken advantage of perceived governmental silence, leading to further environmental degradation and rising tensions.
The tragic incidents at Ntrotroso and Obuasi serve as grim reminders of the urgency to address this issue decisively.

Calls for accelerated govt action
The Coalition has commended the government’s inclusion of galamsey in its 120-day agenda but remains deeply concerned about the slow pace of implementation.
A formal letter has been sent to the President, urging him to issue a cease-and-desist order to all illegal miners and relevant regulatory bodies.
This move, they believe, would demonstrate the government’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s environment while comprehensive strategies are being developed.

The road ahead
The Coalition plans to escalate its advocacy initiatives in the coming weeks and is calling on all Ghanaians to unite in this fight. Political leaders are urged to maintain steadfast support for the campaign against galamsey.
While the Coalition remains open to dialogue on resolving the issue, they insist that illegal and irresponsible mining must come to an end.

“Now is the time for action,” the Coalition declared, emphasising the pressing need for unified efforts to combat the galamsey menace and protect Ghana’s natural heritage.