CPP proposes community-led approach to combat galamsey

The Convention People's Party (CPP) has called for a community-led approach to the fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey in the country.

The party said involving the people who lived within the galamsey areas in the fight against the menace would empower them to report illegal mining activities to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for action.

It also suggested that the government sets up a toll-free line to enable residents in communities where galamsey activities are taking place in forest reserves and water bodies to report to the relevant state institutions.

The party also called for a temporary ban on small-scale and medium-scale mining in river bodies and forest reserves.

Proposals

The National Communications Director of the CPP, Osei Kofi Acquah, who made the proposal in an interview with the Daily Graphic, stated that "the ordinary farmer, unit committee members, assembly members and chiefs should be involved in the fight against illegal mining in the country."

He further suggested that the government and national security should also recruit people within communities and place them in whistleblower brackets to provide accurate information on illegal mining activities to help in the fight against the menace.

He also proposed what the party termed "Operation See Galamseyer, Report Galamseyer," to encourage the citizenry to report illegal mining activities to local authorities or CPP offices for legal action.

“By adopting a community-led approach, the CPP believes the country can effectively combat galamsey and protect its natural resources,” he said.

Mr Acquah criticised the current efforts being made to fight the menace, saying, "government is wasting taxpayers' money trying to chase galamseyers without involving local people."

He noted that the issue persisted despite efforts since 2012, when former President John Dramani Mahama formed an inter-ministerial task force.

Education

To sustain the fight against galamsey, Mr Acquah called for education and awareness of the impact of illegal mining, promotion of environmental conservation and the economic benefits of sustainable mining

"Ghanaians are farmers, not galamseyers," he stressed, adding that "we must protect farmlands and water bodies."
Mr Acquah said he disagreed with the notion that unemployment drives galamsey.

Politicisation

The CPP National Communications Director expressed concern over the politicisation of the fight against illegal mining (galamsey), which has devastated the country’s water bodies and arable lands.

"The galamsey menace is a legacy problem inherited by successive governments since 1992," he said, adding that "It's unfortunate that at this crucial point, we're engaging in petty partisan blame games instead of uniting.