President John Mahama will today, Friday, October 3, host a high-level meeting with civil society organisations (CSOs) and key stakeholders to tackle the devastation caused by illegal mining, aka galamsey.
The engagement will bring together powerful voices, including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ghana, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, the Office of the Chief Imam, the Ghana Muslim Mission, Arocha Ghana, and IMANI Ghana.
According to Presidential Aide Dr Sammy Ayeh, the government sees the fight against galamsey as a shared responsibility.
“The purpose of the meeting is for the government to receive feedback, strategies, and suggestions from these organisations and institutions to complement the efforts already in place to end galamsey,” he explained.
Dr Ayeh pointed to operational and legislative steps already taken, including the repeal of LI 2462, which had stirred controversy, and stressed that broader collaboration with civil society and faith-based groups remains crucial.
“The government believes that the fight against galamsey is a collective one,” he added.
Reactions, however, remain divided.
Dormaahene and newly sworn-in Court of Appeal Judge, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, has praised government’s efforts in the fight against illegal mining, noting that the menace has gone down.
But the Convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, told Joy News that civil society organisations are preparing to demand clarity from President John Mahama on what constitutes success in the fight against illegal mining.
The CEO of Ghana Chamber of Mines stressed that CSOs intend to make the most of the opportunity.
“We will take advantage of every opportunity that is given to us to resolve this. But even we are not going into this meeting to go and articulate the problems.
“We know very clearly what the problems are, and we know His Excellency knows what the problems are.”
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