Coalition Against Galamsey Demands President Mahama to Re-dedicate to Fight Against Galamsey Crisis
Ghana’s Coalition Against Galamsey (CAG) has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency in parts of the country most affected by illegal mining, warning that prolonged tolerance of the practice has pushed the nation into an “environmental and economic catastrophe.”
In a strongly worded statement, the coalition said the President’s recent remarks at the Jubilee House appeared to legitimise small-scale illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, which it described as “environmental terrorism.” It argued that the narrative risks undoing years of government messaging aimed at curbing the practice.
The coalition, which brings together civil society groups, labour unions, professional associations and academics, said illegal mining has contaminated major water bodies, reduced arable farmland for cocoa and other cash crops, and damaged more than 50 forest reserves. The Ghana Water Company has requested a 280 per cent increase in tariffs, citing the higher cost of treating heavily polluted water — a sign, the group said, of the wider economic costs being borne by citizens.
“We are no longer battling an environmental crisis and crime, but also fighting for economic justice and the very survival of our society,” the coalition said.
The group demanded that the President set clear milestones for tackling illegal mining, and dismiss municipal and district chief executives, as well as police and security officials, who fail to curb activities in their jurisdictions. It also urged prosecutions of politically connected figures linked to illegal mining, including those cited in former Environment Minister Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng’s report and cases referred to the Economic and Organised Crime Office.
The coalition called for accelerated resourcing of the recently established National Alternative Employment and Integrated Mining Operations Scheme (NAIMOS), publication of water quality data, and the creation of fast-track courts to try offenders. It also criticised the deportation of foreign suspects, demanding they instead be prosecuted under Ghana’s mining laws.
“The prolonged tolerance of galamsey has reached a tipping point,” said Kenneth Ashigbey, a convener of the coalition. “If we cannot confront this crisis with bold actions, then what kind of nation and people are we becoming?”
Illegal mining, often carried out by artisanal operators, has long plagued Ghana, Africa’s second-largest gold producer. While successive governments have pledged to stamp it out, efforts have been hampered by political patronage, weak enforcement, and the lure of short-term economic gains.
The coalition warned that without decisive action, the crisis could erode national food security, undermine fiscal stability, and inflict lasting environmental damage.
