The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, a leading advocacy group in the fight against illegal mining in the country, has voiced grave concerns about the increasing prevalence of galamsey (illegal mining) activities since the December 2024 elections.

In a statement signed by the convenor of the group, Kenneth Ashigbey, on Monday, January 20, 2025, the group outlined its fears that illegal mining is spiralling out of control, fuelled by what they describe as governmental inaction and a perceived leadership vacuum.

“Despite the tireless efforts of various stakeholders and promises made by the government, we have witnessed a further decline in the situation. Since the December elections, perpetrators have taken advantage of the perceived leadership and governmental silence on the matter, leading to an alarming increase in illegal mining activities,” the coalition said.

The statement follows the recent tragic incidents at Ntrotroso and Obuasi, which the group called “a timely reminder that this problem is an explosive threat to national security and cohesion.” The group fully supports the independent investigation called by former President John Dramani Mahama and emphasized the importance of swift and decisive action from the government.

While acknowledging the government’s mention of addressing galamsey within its first 120-day agenda, the Coalition expressed deep concern about the pace of progress.

“We have formally written to His Excellency the President, urging him to issue an immediate cease-and-desist order to all illegal miners and regulatory bodies. This decisive measure is crucial to demonstrate the government’s commitment to combating this menace and protecting our environment,” the statement read.

In addition to this request, the group has called for a more aggressive approach, urging the President to declare a state of emergency over Ghana’s water bodies and deploy the military to clear illegal miners from these areas.

“Mining on the water bodies is illegal, and the President must take immediate action to halt all mining activities within 100 meters of rivers and streams,” the Coalition stressed.

Furthermore, the group is pushing for the abrogation of all mining concessions overlapping with river buffers and the immediate suspension of any mining activities in globally significant biodiversity areas (GSBAs). They are also calling for the repeal of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which they argue has facilitated illegal mining in protected areas.

The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey pledged to intensify its advocacy efforts in the coming weeks, urging all Ghanaians and political leaders to unite in the fight against illegal mining.

“The urgency of addressing this issue now is greater than ever,” they added

Meanwhile, a clash between the military and some reported illegal miners claimed the lives of seven individuals.

The incident occurred late on Saturday, January 18, 2025, around 11:00 PM, when a group of approximately 60 illegal miners breached the security fence and attempted to access the Deep Decline area of the mine.