Prominent environmental advocacy group, Eco-Conscious Citizens, is urging the government to adopt a more sustainable and long-term approach to tackle the illegal mining crisis, widely known as galamsey.
The group argues that while current efforts are necessary, they fall short of providing a lasting solution.
Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, called for a state of emergency in galamsey-affected areas, insisting that only bold and coordinated actions will effectively combat the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.
In an interview with Citi News, Awula Serwah stressed the importance of escalating government efforts to fight illegal mining.
She pointed out the cyclical nature of the issue, where illegal miners return to damaged forest reserves after temporary enforcement efforts subside.
“We visit some forest reserves, destroy machinery, but then what? They [illegal miners] just come back,” she remarked.
“To break this cycle, she proposed declaring a state of emergency, pausing all small-scale mining activities, and encouraging communities to report illegal miners. “It doesn’t matter their political affiliation—action must be taken,” she added.
Her comments follow the deployment of over 100 soldiers on Thursday, October 10, as part of the government’s enhanced Operation Halt initiative.
This latest phase focuses on illegal mining activities in the Eastern Region, particularly in river bodies like the Birim and Pra Rivers, which have been severely polluted.
The military is equipped with surveillance drones and advanced equipment to dismantle illegal mining operations, seizing or destroying excavators and dredging machinery while arresting those involved.
However, Awula Serwah cautioned that military crackdowns alone will not solve the problem.
She emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of mining laws, providing alternative livelihoods for miners, and fostering stronger community involvement to ensure that illegal mining does not resume once military operations end.
Source: Adomonline
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