Impose nationwide moratorium on all mining activities - Group urges government 

The Ghana Affiliate of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) has added its voice to the calls for a nationwide moratorium on small-scale mining as part of measures to curb the menace of illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey. 

The organisation believes the strict enforcement of such a policy to cover both legal and illegal mining activities across the country will provide the necessary time for a comprehensive environmental assessment and the initiation of restoration efforts in affected areas. 

“During this moratorium, all mining activities, particularly those in environmentally sensitive zones, must be halted. The goal is to prevent further environmental degradation and assess the current conditions of impacted regions. Law enforcement agencies will be deployed to ensure compliance, with special focus on protecting riparian buffer zones, water bodies, and regions with significant biodiversity,” it said in a statement dated September 14, 2024. 

The call for such an actions comes as there have been increasing pressure on the government, from civil society organisations (CSOs), religious bodies and leaders, prominent personalities as well as ordinary citizens, to put a stop to the illicit activity which is destroying water bodies and forests across the country. 

The statement, signed by the president of the association, Ebenezer Appah-Sampong, noted that despite various promises and interventions by the government, galamsey remained rampant, destroying forests, polluting water bodies, threatening ecosystems jeopardising the livelihoods of thousands of citizens, national security and economic development.

“It is troubling that despite the alarming rate of deforestation, soil degradation, and mercury contamination of rivers, the government’s actions have been inadequate in addressing these issues,” it said. 

“We condemn this inadequacy and call on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and all well-meaning Ghanaians to take immediate and decisive action to protect the country from irreversible environmental damage,” the statement added. 

No-Go areas for mining

As part of this moratorium,  the group called on the the government to also designate and legally enforce “No- Go Areas for mining, particularly in riparian zones and ecologically sensitive regions, including forest reserves. 

It said such areas should be permanently protected from all forms of mining activity to safeguard for nation’s critical ecosystems. 

“This policy should be swiftly aligned with the Environmental Assessment Regulations, LI 1652 regulations to ensure immediate enforcement. Violators should face strict penalties, including imprisonment and heavy fines, to deter illegal activities. The government must also consider repealing Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, LI 2462. The overarching objective is to protect the country's vital water bodies and biodiversity from further damage caused by unregulated mining,” it added. 

Other demands

The IAIA-Ghana urged the government to adopt a policy of seizing and confiscating all proven galamsey sites adding that such lands should be transferred to the state and managed by the respective Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), with legal titles assigned for state control for restoration and reforestation; an act which should be backed by legislation. 

“It is imperative to control the flow of mining equipment that facilitates these operations. The manufacture, sale, and importation of specific small-scale mining equipment, such as Changfang machines and other devices used predominantly in illegal mining, should be strictly prohibited.The government must implement stringent regulations on equipment entering mining regions,” it added. 

The group called for institutional strengthening, community engagement and a condemnation declaration by all political parties.