Daryl Bosu
The Ghana Coalition against Galamsey (GCAG) has criticised President John Mahama’s response to the country’s ongoing illegal mining crisis during his first presidential media encounter, describing his comments as disappointing and failing to reflect the urgency of the environmental emergency facing the nation.
“This is not the leadership expected for a country facing environmental suicide… We are disappointed. This government is failing us,” a statement issued by the group disclosed.
In the release, GCAG expressed deep disappointment in the President’s statement about galamsey, noting that President Mahama has dismissed the fight to “environmental terrorism.”
“The President’s statement did not convey the urgency required in the fight to rid this country of environmental terrorism,” the coalition stated, adding that, “His posture downplays a crisis that has polluted over 60% of waterbodies with heavy metals, displaced thousands of farmers, and devastated forest reserves.”
The GCAG acknowledged the launch of the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme for Small-Scale Miners (NAELP), often referred to as NAIMOS in public discourse, but questioned whether it has been adequately resourced to offer meaningful impact.
GCAG also criticised the government’s dismissal of calls for a targeted state of emergency, noting that conditions have worsened since President Mahama himself previously advocated for such action while in opposition.
Meanwhile, President Mahama defended his administration’s decision not to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
He argued that existing laws grant the government authority to combat the menace, stressing that a state of emergency should be a “last resort.”
He said, “We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers to be able to act.”
A Rocha Ghana
Also, the Deputy Director of A Rocha Ghana, Daryl Bosu, has expressed disappointment with President Mahama’s stance on the fight against galamsey in the country.
Mr. Bosu described the President’s statement as discouraging, saying, “We had a bit of disappointment listening to the President when he was speaking on what has been done, or what is being done, as far as galamsey is concerned. We realised that there were a number of excuses also given by the President.”
He noted that the menace of illegal mining has not improved since the time the President, then in opposition, joined civil society organisations (CSOs) in a call for a state of emergency.
Mr. Bosu emphasised that despite the presence of the police taskforce, illegal mining is still ongoing in certain communities, highlighting the excuses of the government to tackle the issue at hand.
“There are police in these communities, and galamsey is ongoing. These are the circumstances we stood on to ask for a targeted state of emergency. It is unfortunate that now that the government has the power to do that, it is also giving us a lot of excuses,” he added.
By Florence Asamoah Adom