Some environmental NGOs have expressed hope for the implementation of the newly elected President’s promise to combat the widespread environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.
For months, these groups have been urging the President, a co-founder, to declare a state of emergency, deploy security forces, remove illegal miners from protected areas, and shut down all mining operations that pollute water bodies.
Awula Serwaah, Coordinator of Eco Conscious Citizens, has voiced dissatisfaction with the current government’s insufficient efforts to tackle the issue of illegal mining.
She pointed out that while the incoming administration has launched the ORAL initiative to recover stolen resources, it has shown little commitment to addressing the problem of galamsey.
The NGOs are calling for the suspension of small-scale mining activities and a halt to the issuance of new mining licenses to address the crisis.
According to them illegal mining has already devastated vast areas of forest reserves in recent months, posing severe threats to ecosystems and livelihoods. They warn that failure to act decisively could result in long-term consequences, such as water contamination and a rise in public health issues, including kidney diseases, cancers, and maternal deaths.