BY Grace Zigah
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) has sharply criticized President John Mahama’s recent remarks on illegal mining, warning that the government’s current strategy threatens the nation’s environmental and economic stability.
In a statement released on Thursday, GCAG convenor Kenneth Ashigbey described the President’s comments during his September 10, 2025, media engagement as “a betrayal of Ghana,” accusing him of downplaying what the Coalition calls an “unprecedented environmental terrorism” sweeping across the country.
GCAG’s concerns are grounded in the growing environmental and social crises linked to galamsey.
Recent data indicate that over 60% of the water bodies are contaminated with heavy metals, thousands of farmers have lost their livelihoods, and forest reserves have been destroyed.
The Coalition claims that, contrary to the President’s remarks, police interventions had begun to stabilize the situation before recent withdrawals of security personnel.
“The President’s assertion that law enforcement cannot distinguish between licensed and illegal miners is misleading,” Ashigbey said.
“Even with imperfections, the Ghana Police Service had begun to bring some order to affected regions. We challenge the Presidency to name a single small-scale mining operator currently mining responsibly under license.”
GCAG further questioned the readiness and resourcing of the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP/NAIMOS), which was established to provide alternatives for those involved in illegal mining.
“To justify galamsey until alternatives are available is to embolden illegality. Ghana cannot wait while our environment collapses and public health deteriorates,” the statement read.
The Coalition also criticized the President’s dismissal of calls for a targeted state of emergency, noting that he had previously supported such measures when out of office.
GCAG pointed to the recent closure of the Kwanyarko Water Treatment Plant, where turbidity levels spiked to 32,000 NTU—a situation directly linked to mining-related pollution—underscoring the urgency of the crisis.
“This government’s current approach to galamsey is failing the people and endangering the country’s future,” Ashigbey said. GCAG announced plans for a comprehensive media briefing on September 15, 2025, at the International Press Centre to present further evidence and mobilize national consensus for decisive action.
Formed as a coalition spanning ten sectors—including media, labour, religious groups, youth, academia, professional bodies, traditional authorities, and businesses—GCAG positions itself as a central watchdog on illegal mining, guided by the Minerals and Mining Act (Act 703) and Ghana’s Constitution.
