Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey Launches Red Band Campaign to Demand Immediate Action Against Illegal Mining
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey has voiced its dissatisfaction with the government’s response to the escalating environmental crisis caused by illegal mining, or “galamsey,” in the country. Despite repeated calls for decisive action, the coalition argues that the government has fallen short of implementing effective measures to curb the rampant destruction of Ghana’s forests and water bodies. In a sharply worded statement, the coalition outlined several unmet demands, warning of irreversible damage to the nation’s natural resources if urgent steps are not taken.
Central to the coalition’s grievances is the government’s refusal to declare a state of emergency, a move they consider essential to halting both legal and illegal mining activities in environmentally sensitive areas. The coalition asserts that without such a declaration, any enforcement efforts will remain insufficient to address the scope of the problem. Illegal mining has long plagued Ghana, with devastating consequences for rivers and forests. The lack of robust government intervention, they argue, has emboldened those engaged in illicit mining practices, leading to widespread environmental degradation.
The coalition also criticized the government’s failure to fully implement a cessation of all mining activities in forest reserves and around water bodies. While some enforcement efforts have been made, including the suspension of regulations related to mining (LI2462), these have not been enough to halt the ongoing destruction. The coalition’s demand for the revocation of licenses granted for prospecting and mining in these sensitive areas has gone unanswered. Instead, the government’s actions have left loopholes that continue to allow environmentally harmful activities to persist.
Equally concerning to the coalition is the incomplete evacuation of mining equipment from illegal mining sites. While the government has redeployed military personnel to assist in law enforcement, these efforts have been described as piecemeal and inadequate. The coalition insists that the government must go further, removing and destroying all illegal mining equipment and ensuring stricter enforcement of existing laws. They argue that without these comprehensive measures, the fight against galamsey will continue to be undermined.
In response to what it views as the government’s lackluster approach, the coalition has launched a Red Band Campaign, urging citizens to wear red bands as a symbol of solidarity and to demand immediate action. The campaign, which began today, the 10th of October, is intended to put additional pressure on the government to clarify its commitments and publish clear timelines for the implementation of effective interventions. The coalition is adamant that these actions must be treated with the urgency the situation demands, warning that any further delays will only exacerbate the crisis.
The statement concludes with a stark reminder that every day that the government fails to take bold and resolute action brings Ghana closer to the point of no return. The country’s rivers and forests are at risk of irreversible depletion, and the contamination of water sources threatens the health and livelihoods of countless communities. The coalition’s message is unequivocal—piecemeal solutions and half-hearted measures will not suffice. Only swift, decisive action can prevent further environmental devastation and ensure the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s natural resources.
In the absence of such action, the coalition warns, Ghana risks not only ecological collapse but also a broader erosion of the rule of law and public confidence in the government’s ability to safeguard the nation’s future.
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) comprises coalitions and a network of organisations from 10 blocks: the Media, Labour, Religious Groups, Youth Groups, Research and academia, Pressure Groups, CSOs, Professional Bodies, Traditional Leaders, and Business bodies.
The Coalition is a common platform for all ‘Against Galamsey Groups’ (AGG) to harmonise advocacy and social action interventions in the fight against galamsey. The Coalition believes that only through unity and collective action can we effectively combat this issue.
The focus of the campaign against illegal mining activities is not limited to gold exploitation, but includes all mining offences committed under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) based on the premise that the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, states that any mining activity that takes place without ratification by Parliament is illegal
