The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) has disputed the government’s claim that Ghana has turned the corner in the fight against illegal mining by ending the culture of impunity that has long shielded influential individuals involved in the destructive activity.
The coalition said widespread lawlessness, selective enforcement of the law and weak prosecution of offenders continued to undermine efforts to protect the country’s forests, rivers and other environmentally sensitive areas, insisting that the evidence on the ground contradicted the government’s assessment.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, the Convenor of the coalition, Kenneth Ashigbey, acknowledged that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources had made progress in combating illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. However, he maintained that those gains were insufficient to justify the ministry’s conclusion that the era of impunity had ended.
“We completely disagree with the ministry’s assertion, in its own conclusion, that ‘the era of impunity is over’. The evidence on the ground says otherwise,” Mr Ashigbey stated.
He argued that illegal mining activities remained widespread across several parts of the country, particularly in the Eastern Region, where communities stretching from Apedwa Junction through Anyinam to Osino continued to experience increasing levels of illegal mining despite their proximity to the seat of government.
According to him, the continued destruction of the environment in those communities raises serious concerns about selective enforcement of anti-galamsey laws. He questioned why the Eastern Region appeared to be receiving special treatment while illegal miners allegedly intimidated farmers and polluted major rivers, including the Birim, Densu and Ayensu.
The coalition also pointed to ongoing illegal mining activities around the Bui Hydroelectric Dam catchment area, Samreboi, Lake Bosomtwe and the Ahwiren wetlands as further evidence that the fight against galamsey was far from won.
Mr Ashigbey called on President John Dramani Mahama to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of all individuals implicated in illegal mining activities around Lake Bosomtwe. He described the situation as a serious threat to one of Ghana’s most important tourism and ecological assets, warning that continued degradation of the lake would have significant environmental and economic consequences.
The coalition further urged the government to intensify efforts to identify, arrest and prosecute alleged galamsey kingpins, financiers and politically exposed persons, arguing that the campaign against illegal mining would remain ineffective if powerful actors continued to evade justice.GCAG expressed disappointment that despite earlier assurances by President Mahama and the Attorney-General that investigations into several high-profile illegal mining cases would be pursued vigorously, those investigations had yet to result in meaningful prosecutions.
The coalition also raised concerns over allegations involving the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS). It cited claims that some excavators and other equipment seized from illegal miners had allegedly been returned after unofficial payments were made. “If this is true, this is shameful, and it is an affront to the integrity of NAIMOS and to the very mandate it was set up to fulfil,” Mr. Ashigbey said.
He challenged the secretariat to publicly respond to the allegations, while also questioning the status of its toll-free complaints line and demanding greater transparency regarding reports submitted by communities.“Where is NAIMOS’s toll-free complaints line published and what is the public record of community complaints received, logged and acted upon?” he asked.
The coalition further criticised what it described as the Ghana Police Service’s inadequate response to intelligence and reports submitted by the government’s Blue Water Guards. It stressed that the effectiveness of the initiative depended on swift law enforcement action and called for disciplinary measures against police commanders and officers who failed to tackle illegal mining activities within their operational jurisdictions.
Despite its criticism, GCAG acknowledged a number of positive steps taken by the government. It commended the decision to revoke Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144, as amended by E.I. 234, which had degazetted portions of the Achimota Forest Reserve.The coalition described the move as a demonstration that the government was prepared to place the long-term welfare of citizens and environmental protection above political considerations.
It also welcomed the ongoing review of the Minerals and Mining Act but urged the government to publish the Cabinet-approved draft bill for broad public consultation before it is presented to Parliament for consideration.As part of its recommendations, the coalition renewed its call for the Forestry Commission to be strengthened through the recruitment of additional personnel, improved logistics and enhanced security support to safeguard forest reserves from illegal mining operations.
GCAG maintained that while policy reforms and government interventions were encouraging, the fight against galamsey would only succeed when enforcement was applied fairly, offenders were prosecuted without fear or favour, and state institutions were adequately resourced to protect the country’s natural environment.
Philbert Amiba Ayuusah.