Dr. Ashigbey made the call during the Annual New Year School and Conference organized by the University of Ghana School of Continuing and Distance Education, College of Education in Accra.

The conference is on the theme "Attaining the 5 Ps of Sustainable Development for a Resilient Ghana: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership."

Dr. Ashigbey urged authorities to declare a state of emergency, effectively halting both legal and illegal mining operations, particularly in forest reserves and near water bodies.
He called for the strict enforcement of environmental laws, including the evacuation of mining equipment from these areas to protect biodiversity.

Dr. Ashigbey recommended deploying police and military personnel to remove and destroy all mining and earth-moving equipment around rivers and forest reserves.

"We need to operationalise the special court to prosecute the perpetrators of this horrible crime and prosecute all influential persons involved in illegal mining," he said.

Dr. Ashigbey, also the Chief Executive of the Ghana Telecommunications Chamber, emphasized that the country needed strong political will and commitment to effectively enforce environmental laws and regulations.

"We need accountability from our leaders. Citizens must hold them responsible for environmental degradation," he said.
He called for the involvement of local communities in decision-making processes for better management of the natural resources.

Dr Ashigbey acknowledged the role of influential figures like the local leaders, religious bodies, traditional authorities, and business people to advocate efforts against illegal mining.

"We need to advocate for poverty alleviation strategies in rural communities and promote sustainable, nature-based solutions as alternatives to illegal mining," he said.

The New Year School, held annually since 1948, serves as a significant platform for academia, industry, policymakers, and other stakeholders to discuss key issues vital for national development.

The conference opens at the beginning of each year, and at its conclusion, a communique is issued, summarizing participants' recommendations and discussions.