Concrete action now! …public expectation on President’s meeting with CSOs over galamsey
A cross-section of Ghanaians have called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to be bold and candid with President John Dramani Mahama in today’s engagement at the Presidency over illegal mining (galamsey).
They argued that the magnitude of the menace required frank discussion and decisive action rather than platitudes, stressing that while the President’s initiative to meet CSOs is commendable, it must translate into concrete measures.
From Koforidua, Eastern Region, Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, reports that residents continue to express concerns about the destruction caused by galamsey.
A trader, Priscilla Zelivu, lamented that rivers such as Pra, Birim and Ankobra had been polluted with mercury and sand, making water unsafe and costly to treat.
She urged CSOs to press the government to declare a state of emergency on the menace.
Similarly, Mr Douglas Nyarko, a retired sailor, warned that chemicals used in galamsey posed health risks including kidney and neurological diseases, linking them to rising cases in hospitals.
A farmer, Mr Laweh Awutey, expressed worry over fertile lands being destroyed, threatening food security, stressing that even vegetables such as kontonmire were being contaminated.
On his part, Mr Cyril Asamoah, a civil servant, said it was unfair for government to allow foreign firms to mine while criminalising poor locals.
He therefore appealed for job creation to draw the youth away from galamsey.
Francis Dabre Dabang reports that some residents in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region described the move as “welcoming”.
Mr Raphael Kariama said the issue of illegal mining, also known as “galamsey” was gaining momentum in some parts of the region, and required decisive action.
He praised government’s commitment to tackling the canker, but demanded that government up its game by exhibiting the political will and leadership to forestall the social monster any time soon.
According to him, the pollution of water bodies and the deterioration caused to the environment in scores of communities was quite alarming.
Also, Ms Lydia Soyeh mentioned that the “galamsey” canker was a phenomenon that needed to be tackled holistically.
She therefore charged the government to involve the chiefs, traditional leaders and key opinion leaders in communities where illegal mining was ongoing, if it desired to succeed in its stance against the menace.
David Yarboi Tetteh reports from Cape Coast that a resident, Desmond Arthur, said the CSOs have remained quiet about the worsening galamsey menace in the country unlike under the previous Akufo-Addo administration.
He indicated that, they should ask compelling questions during the encounter and not behave like praise singers.
Another resident, Rebecca Arthur, noted that, the meeting demonstrates the President’s recognition of civil society to national development.
In a related development, Academic City University has called on the government to move beyond periodic crackdowns on illegal mining (galamsey) and pursue long-term measures that balance environmental protection with sustainable livelihoods.
In a white paper, the university noted that illegal mining has polluted over 60 per cent of Ghana’s rivers, including the Pra, Birim, Offin and Ankobra, and costs the country an estimated $2 billion annually through lost revenue and smuggled gold.
It also cited health risks from mercury exposure and the destruction of 34 forest reserves through deforestation.
Key recommendations include strengthening mining laws, closing enforcement loopholes, depoliticising regulation, targeting financiers of illegal operations, empowering traditional authorities, and investing in alternative livelihoods.
The paper further urged the use of drones, GIS mapping, and real-time water monitoring alongside land restoration projects and interdisciplinary research.
Academic City announced a strategic partnership with Arima Resources Limited to support the fight through research, technological innovation and evidence-based solutions.
Planned initiatives include the deployment of autonomous drones, intelligent monitoring systems, and digital compliance frameworks.
The partnership will also create opportunities for student-led research, prototype development and socio-economic studies in mining communities.
Dr Sena Agbodjah, Vice-President for Academic Affairs and co-author of the paper, said the university’s role goes beyond teaching to providing tangible solutions and youth empowerment in galamsey-affected areas.
“By convening diverse voices and offering evidence-based solutions, we are helping to protect Ghana’s future,” she stated.
BY TIMES REPORTERS
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