Civil society pressure is mounting on President John Dramani Mahama following what activists have described as a weak government response to Ghana’s worsening illegal mining crisis.
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG), in a strongly worded statement on Thursday, September 11, accused the President of “downplaying” the devastation caused by galamsey during his Presidential Media Encounter the previous day.
President Mahama had defended his government’s decision not to declare a state of emergency, insisting that existing laws already give the state adequate powers to act against illegal miners. “We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers,” the President said.
But the coalition disagreed, describing his response as “uninspiring” and “misplaced.” They warned that the crisis has escalated into what they termed “environmental terrorism,” citing polluted rivers, destroyed farmlands, and devastated forests.
GCAG argued that government indecision has worsened the situation, pointing to Ghana Water Company Limited’s recent shutdown of the Kwanyarko Water Treatment Plant after turbidity levels reached an unprecedented 32,000 NTU. “Over 60% of waterbodies are contaminated. Farmers are being displaced. Cocoa exports are under threat. Yet, leadership still hesitates,” the statement read.
The group also rejected the President’s claim that police forces struggled to distinguish legal from illegal miners, insisting that the police had been making progress before their withdrawal. “We challenge the Presidency to name a single licensed small-scale mining entity operating responsibly,” they said.
While acknowledging the government’s National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme for Small-Scale Miners (NAELP), GCAG questioned whether it has been given enough resources to provide real solutions.
With public frustration growing, the coalition has announced a major press briefing for Monday, September 15, 2025, at the International Press Centre, where it plans to unveil its next steps.
For now, the message from GCAG is clear: Ghana cannot afford business as usual in the fight against galamsey.
