Organised groups express anger over galamsey menace - Demand action from govt

More organised groups have voiced concerns over the spate of illegal mining in the country, demanding drastic action from the government to end the menace commonly called galamsey in local circles.

At separate news conferences in Accra on Wednesday, the Media Coalition Against Galamsey and Organised Labour asked the government to be decisive in dealing with the life-threatening menace.

At the same time, the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) and the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) said in separate statements that the need for action had become urgent.

Organised Labour called on the government to immediately declare a state of emergency to stop all mining activities in forest reserves and around water bodies.

At the news conference addressed by the Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Joshua Ansah, the body further demanded the immediate evacuation of all mining equipment from protected areas and urged the deployment of police and military forces to dismantle and destroy mining machinery operating in those zones.

In addition to this, Organised Labour demanded the revocation of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, which governs mining activities in forest reserves, and the withdrawal of all licences granted for prospecting and mining in these areas.

The group also called for the establishment of a special court to prosecute all those involved in illegal mining activities.

The TUC emphasised that if the government did not act on these demands by the end of September, the organisation would embark on a series of demonstrations and a nationwide strike to press for action.

Effect of Galamsey

Mr Ansah expressed grave concerns over the devastation caused by illegal mining, highlighting its destruction of forest cover, water bodies and entire ecosystems.

He pointed to the severe health risks posed to nearby communities such as exposure to toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide, which had led to increased respiratory and waterborne diseases due to polluted air and water.

He noted that the scale of environmental destruction had reached crisis proportions, with unprecedented depletion of forest cover and water body pollution.

Recent Issues

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has also been affected, with the pollution of River Pra hindering water production for Cape Coast and Elmina. In 2022, the GWCL had to shut down its water treatment plant at Kyebi because illegal mining had heavily polluted the Birim River.

The cost of water treatment has risen tenfold, and there is a growing concern that Ghana may be forced to import water for household and industrial use.

Alarming Visuals

Mr Ansah highlighted the disturbing videos and photos circulating online of discoloured water bodies and the tragic sight of people’s lifeless bodies being pulled from galamsey pits.

He also noted that agricultural lands, repurposed for mining threatened food security as the improper use of mining chemicals damaged both land productivity and food safety.

In response to these escalating threats, Mr Ansah called on all Ghanaians to unite with Organised Labour in the fight against galamsey and its harmful effects on the environment and communities.