The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) has launched a scathing critique of President John Dramani Mahama’s comments on the country’s illegal mining crisis, accusing him of downplaying the severity of what they describe as an environmental emergency.
Speaking at the Jubilee House on September 10 during his Presidential Media Encounter, Mahama defended his administration’s decision not to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
According to him, existing laws already provide government with the authority to address the menace, stressing that a state of emergency should be a “last resort.”
But the coalition said the President’s words did not reflect the urgency the situation demands.
“The President’s statement did not convey the urgency required in the fight to rid this country of environmental terrorism,” GCAG said in a strongly worded statement.
“His posture downplays a crisis that has polluted over 60% of waterbodies with heavy metals, displaced thousands of farmers, and devastated forest reserves.”
The group also rejected Mahama’s claim that law enforcement struggles to differentiate between legal and illegal miners, insisting that this justification for withdrawing the Inspector-General of Police’s task force was misplaced.
“Though not perfect, the police had brought the situation under control. We challenge the Presidency to name a single licensed small-scale mining entity operating responsibly,” GCAG noted.
They accused the government of failing to demonstrate the leadership needed to address what they termed “environmental suicide.”
“This is not the leadership expected for a country facing environmental suicide… We are disappointed. This government is failing us,” the coalition stressed.
