OccupyGhana has reiterated its call for the prosecution of those involved in mining within protected areas.
The civil society group argues that holding offenders legally accountable would act as a strong deterrent and safeguard the environment, particularly in sensitive regions.
The illegal mining practice, known as galamsey, has recently surged in prominence, drawing concern from various unions and associations. The Ghana Medical Association, among others, has echoed the demand for a three-month ban on all mining activities to address the escalating environmental damage.
In a statement released on Tuesday, September 10, OccupyGhana urged the government to take firm action and prosecute individuals involved in illegal mining.
“Take Immediate Action Against Galamsey Offenders! We call for urgent legal action against persons and companies accused of illegal mining, especially in protected areas. Government inaction, especially concerning politically connected entities, has fostered impunity and undermined public trust. This must be addressed forthwith.”
“Confiscate all Galamsey Lands! We propose an amendment to the law to criminalise landowners making lands available for Galamsey. Unless a landowner can prove that their land was forcibly taken over (by having made a contemporaneous report to the police) they should be taken to have abetted the offence by facilitating it.
“These lands should therefore be confiscated as ‘tainted property’ and then repurposed for public benefit, including reforestation, farming or even regulated mining.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Water Resources Commission also made similar demands recently, calling for the enforcement of mining laws to protect Ghana’s water bodies.
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