
The Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining has urgently called on the Ghanaian government to take immediate action to address the ongoing illegal mining crisis, which has severely impacted rivers and farmlands across the country.
Convenor Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey warned that failure to act could lead to a looming water crisis, highlighting the ongoing drought affecting eight regions as a pressing indicator of the situation’s urgency.
Speaking at a forum on September 11, Dr. Ashigbey noted that if the government does not intervene promptly, Ghanaians may soon face severe water shortages.
His remarks followed a serious warning from the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), which reported alarming water losses during treatment, currently ranging from 35% to 50%, far exceeding the acceptable rate of around 5%.
Dr. Ashigbey described this situation as “detrimental to public health.”
He urged the president to declare a state of emergency for water bodies affected by illegal mining, invoking Article 31 of the Constitution.
President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, echoed the call for urgent action, emphasizing that some chiefs and political figures are complicit in these illegal activities.
He stated that Ghanaians can no longer tolerate the government’s inaction and demanded immediate measures to combat galamsey.
Furthermore, Joshua Ansah, General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), announced that the Congress would embark on a series of demonstrations and a nationwide strike if the government fails to address concerns about illegal mining by the end of September 2024.
He reiterated the need for an immediate declaration of a state of emergency to halt all forms of mining in forest reserves and water bodies.