New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful Bryan Acheampong has proposed a temporary halt to all forms of mining in Ghana as part of efforts to protect the country’s polluted rivers and water bodies.
Speaking during a recent engagement with his supporters as sighted by MyNewsGh, he said Ghana needed a bold, collective approach to address the devastating effects of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Acheampong argued that a nationwide pause in mining activities would allow authorities to assess the damage done and plan a more sustainable strategy for responsible mining.
“Ninety days, I’m not talking about even a state of emergency, ninety days, rainy season, let’s clear our water bodies, let’s engage how we go back to mining,” he said.
The former Minister of Food and Agriculture stressed that the fight against illegal mining could not continue in its current disjointed form.
“We cannot stop or repair the tie or the track of a moving train as fast as it is speeding,” he remarked, urging a united front to temporarily suspend all mining operations.
“We need to agree, and I’m not talking about a state of emergency, that mining, regardless of where, should stop now for the next 90 days.
“Let’s regroup, let’s rethink, and see how we can launch back into responsible mining,” Acheampong told the audience.
He warned that if immediate action was not taken, the country’s food and water systems could face irreversible damage.
“If our food systems are being poisoned and we just look on, that we prefer to make the money that people will not be around in a very short time to try and arrest the situation,” he cautioned.
Bryan Acheampong concluded that his proposal was not only an environmental intervention but also a matter of national security.
“This is something that I believe answers your general security questions,” he said.
