President John Dramani Mahama has raised alarm over the growing environmental devastation caused by illegal mining—commonly referred to as galamsey—across key parts of the Western North Region, describing the situation as a “national emergency.”
“We are alarmed by the environmental destruction that is reported across Awaso, Dadieso, and Sefwi-Anhwiaso, mainly due to illegal mining.
“I must be honest, this is a national emergency,” the President stated on Tuesday, July 15, while addressing a durbar as part of his ongoing ‘Thank You Tour’ in the region.
He emphasized that the fight against illegal mining remains a top priority for his administration and assured residents that the national anti-galamsey taskforce will continue its operations, particularly targeting forest reserves and water bodies being ravaged by miners.
But President Mahama also expressed concern about the emergence of unregulated anti-galamsey groups operating under the guise of law enforcement.
He accused these groups of extorting money from legitimate small-scale mining companies.
“I have also noticed the activities of the illegal anti-galamsey taskforces that go round extorting money from legitimate small-scale mining companies,” he revealed.
