Private legal practitioner Victoria Bright has urged stronger national action against illegal mining, warning that Ghana faces an existential threat if the problem is not addressed urgently.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, she wondered why those involved in illegal mining appear unfazed by the consequences of their actions.
“As for the consequences of not dealing with it, they are there, they are known to all of us. They are so dire that I wonder why it doesn’t seem to bother these people who are perpetrating illegal mining,” she said.
Bright questioned the motivation of individuals engaged in destroying the country’s natural resources. “I wonder whether they are Ghanaians—of course, they are Ghanaians—but I just wonder what motivates them beyond money. As human beings, we have to stand for more than just money. You have to stand for something,” she stressed.
She described illegal mining as a cross-party national crisis. “This is a national problem. It is not an NDC problem, it is not an NPP problem. It is a Ghanaian problem because it is an existential threat to us as Ghanaians,” she said.
Her remarks follow the circulation of a viral video in which a police reinforcement team was seen rescuing nine soldiers who faced a violent confrontation with illegal miners at Ahafo Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region. The soldiers, reportedly on national assignment in Goaso, had discovered an illegal mining site at Bronikrom near Hwidiem and arrested the site owner. They allegedly seized vehicles, mobile phones, and pistols, and set fire to structures and equipment at the site.
In retaliation, an angry mob vandalised a Toyota Hilux pickup belonging to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations (NAIMOS) team and attempted to attack the soldiers before officers intervened.
Bright expressed concern over the incident, particularly the image of civilians overpowering security forces in a mining confrontation. “These people cannot be allowed to take over. How can we have a situation where civilians are rescuing the military? It’s ridiculous,” she said.
She called for tough measures, suggesting that the situation may require a drastic approach. “This riot, over and over again—we have to do something. I think and I have said this before, and I know how difficult it is for the government, but maybe we should now consider the state of emergency we’ve all been talking about,” Bright added.
