The Executive Director of Climate Frontier Advocacy (CFA), Dr John Baptist Naah, has called on the government to declare a targeted state of emergency in areas heavily affected by illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
He said although the Mahama-led administration has taken steps to address illegal mining, the current measures are not strong enough to deal with what he described as “high-tech galamsey,” where heavy machinery is used to destroy forests, rivers and farmlands at a rapid pace.
Dr Naah made the call in a statement, warning that Ghana’s natural resources are being destroyed faster than government interventions can stop them.
“The primary forest cover in Ghana has been shrinking ferociously,” he said. “It was 8.8 million hectares in 1900. It reduced to 4.2 million hectares in 1950 and further reduced to 1.5 million hectares in 1999.”
He questioned how much forest cover is left today, given the scale of destruction caused by illegal mining.
“Can you imagine how much primary forest cover is now left in the midst of this ferocious high-tech galamsey menace? Your guess is as good as mine,” he stated.
Dr Naah also raised concerns about the impact of illegal mining on Ghana’s rivers, many of which he said have lost their natural state.
“The once sacred, clean and life-giving rivers have sadly turned into brown and poisoned rivers as a result of the relentless practice of high-tech galamsey,” he said.
According to him, the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining poses serious risks to the country’s future, including food insecurity, water shortages and increased climate shocks.
“The potential of causing food insecurity, water scarcity and more climate shocks now and in the future for Ghanaians is real,” he warned.
“Our farmlands, natural habitats for wildlife including flora, are also not spared, and we are showing no agency in this matter.”
Dr Naah questioned the level of leadership and accountability in the fight against illegal mining and directly addressed the President in his statement.
“Mr President, CFA’s score for your efforts in the high-tech galamsey fight is not good enough, as a better score is expected of you by Ghanaians,” he said.
He also expressed concern that the creation of the Office of the Minister of State for Climate and Sustainability could become meaningless if illegal mining is not tackled decisively.
“It is also our view that the creation of the office of the Minister of State for Climate and Sustainability may be an exercise in futility if this high-tech galamsey fight is not won,” he added.
As part of urgent measures, Dr Naah called for immediate and decisive action by the government.
“This agent is the immediate declaration of a targeted state of emergency on high-tech galamsey hotspots to halt the ongoing destruction,” he said.
He further recommended a temporary suspension of all illegal mining activities.
“We are also recommending that there should be a temporary ban or suspension on all illegal operations, including small-scale mining now, or a freeze on unauthorised mining concessions,” he stated.
