Governance advocate and former Forestry Commission official, Rev. Charles Owusu, has challenged President John Dramani Mahama to take bold and decisive action against illegal mining.
He warned that failure to do so would be a major letdown, especially considering his previous experience in office.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem on Tuesday, April 29, Charles Owusu described illegal mining—commonly known as galamsey—as a national crisis that must be addressed beyond political lines.
He called for immediate intervention, including deploying the Ghana Armed Forces to guard the country’s forest reserves.
“I’ll be disappointed if Mahama fails in this galamsey fight. He’s tried and failed before, so he knows what’s at stake. If by tomorrow all forest zones are declared military zones, galamsey will end,” he said.
Rev. Owusu argued that the lack of political will is the biggest obstacle, suggesting that illegal miners often receive protection from political actors.
“We all know that depending on who is in power, their own people are involved. That’s why harsh actions are avoided,” he added.
He dismissed the idea that repealing existing mining laws like LI 2462 would solve the problem, stating that enforcement—not legislation—is the real issue.
He called for the creation of a dedicated Forest Protection Unit within the Ghana Armed Forces to safeguard the country’s dwindling green spaces.
“God didn’t give us gold to destroy ourselves. Our forests are disappearing, water bodies are polluted, and yet we’re doing nothing because we’re afraid to confront those behind it,” he lamented.
Rev. Owusu further highlighted the inconsistency in political narratives, recalling how the then-opposition NDC demanded swift action from President Akufo-Addo, only for the problem to persist under their own watch.
He further proposed restricting small-scale mining to Ghanaians, questioning the unchecked operations of foreign nationals and large mining companies in the sector.
“You have just four years. Use your power to end this. Bring together the Lands Ministry, Forestry Commission, Lands Commission, and security chiefs. Declare the forests a military zone. If you do that, we won’t be talking about galamsey on the radio anymore,” he said.
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