Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, Daryl Bosu, has expressed deep disappointment over what he describes as the government’s slow and ineffective approach to tackling galamsey.
Bosu said the much-anticipated engagement between President John Dramani Mahama and civil society organisations (CSOs) turned out to be less of a dialogue and more of a one-way briefing.
“We went in not expecting much, to be frank. What really happened was more of a presidential briefing than an engagement.
“It was almost like the president was meeting with the media, not CSOs. Questions were very limited, and there was no real opportunity to push back or highlight issues we are seeing on the ground,” he explained on The KeyPoints on Saturday, October 4.
According to Bosu, the government’s communication failed to address the immediate needs and concerns of communities bearing the brunt of illegal mining.
He recounted how the president refrained from making firm commitments during the meeting.
“Instead, the president deferred, indicating he needed feedback from the National Security Council before making such a pronouncement.
“For citizens, this did not respond to the urgency of the crisis. We needed clearer markers to measure progress, but that was missing,” he said.
Bosu stressed that while there have been visible activities and interventions over the years, the outcomes have been far from adequate, given the scale of environmental damage caused by galamsey.
“Government has the power, the authority, and the mandate to act decisively. Within this period, a lot more could have been done.
“What we’ve seen so far are activities and efforts, yes, but the results are not matching the urgency of the crisis,” he noted.
He emphasised that the illegal mining menace remains a national emergency that requires more than promises and partial measures.
“Galamsey is a national crisis that has devastated our rivers, forests, and communities.
“It cannot be fought with words alone. It’s time for government to commit fully and show results on the ground. That is the only way we can win this fight,” Bosu concluded.
