Minister for Communications and Digitalisation Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has appealed to Ghanaians, calling for collective action in the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

According to the Minister, tackling the galamsey menace should not be left to the government alone but must involve every Ghanaian, as it is a national issue that threatens the environment, livelihoods, and the future of the country.

Her remarks come at a critical time when illegal mining activities continue to wreak havoc on Ghana’s natural resources, particularly water bodies, forests, and farmlands.

Speaking at a staff durbar at the Ghana Meteorological Agency on Wednesday, October 9, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful expressed her deep concerns about the devastating effects of galamsey on the environment.

She emphasised that illegal mining has led to widespread environmental degradation, polluted water bodies, and destroyed ecosystems, leaving lasting scars on the landscape.

The Minister highlighted the importance of taking a united and concerted approach to addressing the issue, stressing that the government alone cannot bear the burden of fighting galamsey.

She also called for a change in the attitudes among Ghanaians toward environmental protection, urging citizens to see the environment as a collective heritage that must be preserved for future generations.

She warned that without a shift in mindset and behaviour, the country risks losing its natural resources to illegal activities that prioritise short-term financial gain over long-term sustainability.

“I am against the devastation caused to our environment by illegal miners. I spoke about it and it is a duty that we all have to do and there is work that we all have to do. It [galamsey] can’t just be government responsibility alone.

“We need to work on changing our attitudes as Ghanaians and protecting our environment as our heritage to the next generation and taking it as a matter of seriousness.”