The Coalition Against Galamsey Ghana (CAGG) has strongly criticised President Mahama over what it describes as a weak and disappointing response to questions on illegal mining during his “Meet the Press” session at the Jubilee House last week.
According to the coalition, the President’s remarks not only failed to show urgency but also came across as a subtle justification for the activities of illegal miners, a stance they say could embolden the galamsey cartels that continue to devastate the environment.
Convenor of the coalition, Kenneth Ashibgey, addressing a press conference in Accra on Monday, said the President’s posture is unacceptable at a time when communities are losing their water sources, farmlands, and livelihoods to destructive mining practices.
“If at the highest office of the land we cannot be bold and firm against this national crisis, then we are telling Ghanaians that we are comfortable with our destruction,” he charged.
On the role of the Ghana Police Service, the coalition accused officers in galamsey-endemic areas of complicity and inaction, stressing that corruption within the service has crippled enforcement efforts.
Mr. Ashibgey urged the Inspector General of Police to take decisive steps by completing the long-delayed transfers of commanders in such areas and introducing strict performance targets to hold them accountable.
“The police remain the primary agency mandated to enforce the law, but when their hands are compromised, the entire fight collapses. We are calling for urgent reforms to clean up the service and restore credibility to the fight,” he said.
The coalition also expressed frustration over delays in prosecuting offenders, noting that government has failed to establish the promised fast-track courts despite setting up Goldbod in record time. They argued that while ordinary community members in places like Atronsu face prosecution for resisting illegal miners, politically exposed persons and financiers named in official reports continue to walk free.
“This selective application of justice undermines the fight and sends a dangerous signal that some people are untouchable. We need immediate action to bring these kingpins to book and demonstrate that the law works,” Ashibgey stated.
CAGG further demanded transparency from state water agencies, calling on the Ghana Water Company Limited and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency to publish regular updates on water quality, including levels of heavy metals and turbidity in treatment plants.
They warned that failure to act decisively will leave Ghanaians paying unbearable costs for polluted water.
“We will not accept a future where we cannot afford safe water because leaders lacked the courage to confront those destroying it,” Ashibgey concluded.
By Bawa Musah
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