We wish to note specific promises made by Government by way of certain commitments to addressing and ending the galamsey menace.

The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey reiterates its position that it stands firm in its demand for decisive and immediate action to address the escalating crisis of illegal mining and its devastating impact on Ghana’s forests and water bodies.

We regrettably note that the government’s responses to these demands, as outlined in their statements thus far, significantly fall short of the expected interventions needed, leaving crucial concerns unmet. While some commitments have been acknowledged, they fail to fully address the core demands presented by members of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey needed to address the situation as a pressing issue of our time.

Unmet Demands:

1. Declaration of a State of Emergency
   • Despite the urgency of the situation, the government has not declared a state of emergency as demanded by our coalition. This critical step is essential to effectively halt both legal and illegal mining operations, especially in Forest Reserves (FRs) and around water bodies. Without this declaration, the measures implemented remain insufficient to curb the destructive impact of mining activities.
2. Complete Cessation of Mining in Forest Reserves and Water Bodies
   • We called for the immediate halting of all mining activities, legal and illegal, in FRs and around water bodies. To date, this demand has been unmet, with no firm action to revoke licenses granted for prospecting and mining in these sensitive areas. The government’s suspension of enforcement related to mining regulations (LI2462) is a far cry from the demanded revocation, leaving loopholes that continue to endanger Ghana’s environment.
3. Evacuation of Mining Equipment and Strict Law Enforcement
   • Our demand for the immediate evacuation of all mining equipment from these areas has not been fully addressed. While the government has redeployed military personnel to aid in law enforcement efforts, these actions are limited and do not reflect the comprehensive measures needed to remove and destroy all illegal equipment involved in mining activities.

Urgent Actions

Given the developments, we call on all Ghanaians to rally behind the Red Band Campaign beginning today, the 10th of October. This campaign, symbolized by the wearing of a red band, is a visual representation of our collective demand for immediate and decisive action against illegal mining. We will monitor, put pressure on, and ensure that Government does not ignore its commitments. There is an urgent need for government to clarify the commitments made by publishing clear timelines and indicators so actions are progressive rather than adhoc as we have seen over the years. We further urgently call on the government to align its commitments with the demands of the Ghanaian people. A failure to meet these demands not only threatens our environment but also undermines the rule of law and endangers the livelihoods of countless communities that rely on clean water and intact ecosystems. We urge the government to expedite action to dismantle illegal operations without delay.

In conclusion, we all need to be reminded that for every delay on the part of Government to act and show bold and resolute leadership in the interest of Ghanaians, our rivers, our forests, and the future stands at greater risk of irreversible depletion, poisoning and contamination, and putting the lives and future of Ghanaians at risk. We therefore caution that the piecemeal solutions and half-hearted as exhibited thus far efforts will not suffice. Any action must be swift and treated with all the urgency it deserves.

The End not only possible but inevitable.

Signed for the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey

Kenneth Ashigbey

• Kenneth Ashigbey -
• Albert Kwabena Dwumfour
• Cecil Sunkwa Mills –
• Senyo Hosi
• Daryl Bosu
• Jonathan Gokah
• Kofi Abotsi
• Carol Annang
• Ben Boakye
• Eugene Sarfo Nkansah
• Yaw Nsarko
• Gloria Hiadzi

About the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey

The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) comprises coalitions and a network of organisations from 10 blocks: the Media, Labour, Religious Groups, Youth Groups, Research and academia, Pressure Groups, CSOs, Professional Bodies, Traditional Leaders, and Business bodies.

The Coalition is a common platform for all 'Against Galamsey Groups' (AGG) to harmonise advocacy and social action interventions in the fight against galamsey. We believe that only through unity and collective action can we effectively combat this issue.

The focus of the campaign against illegal mining activities is not limited to gold exploitation, but includes all mining offences committed under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) based on the premise that the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, states that any mining activity that takes place without ratification by Parliament is illegal