The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey has issued a pressing call to President John Dramani Mahama, urging him to declare a state of emergency in response to the devastating impact of illegal mining activities on the country's water bodies. This appeal comes amidst a resurgence of galamsey operations following the December 2024 election, despite previous commitments from presidential candidates to tackle the issue.
In a letter addressed to the President, Convener Engineer Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey expressed deep concern over the alarming decline in water quality, citing recent findings from the Ghana Water Company Limited. The report revealed a severe deterioration in water quality, with turbidity levels reaching 14,000 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant, far exceeding the World Health Organisation's maximum permissible level of 5 NTU for processing.
The coalition also condemned the recent clashes between illegal miners and military personnel, which resulted in the loss of over eight lives. These incidents have exploited the perceived silence of leadership and government, leading to an increase in illegal mining activities. The coalition emphasized that the tragic events at Ntrotroso and Obuasi serve as a timely reminder of the explosive threat galamsey poses to national security and cohesion.
While reaffirming its commitment to assisting in the fight against galamsey, the coalition outlined key demands, including:
- Declare a State of Emergency: Declare a state of emergency over water bodies and deploy the military to remove illegal miners.
- Abrogate Mining Concessions: Abrogate mining concessions overlapping river buffers and halt all mining within 100 meters of rivers and streams.
- Enforce Act 995: Enforce Act 995 without bias to ensure effective regulation of mining activities.
- Revoke Permits: Revoke all permits for mining in protected globally significant biodiversity areas (GSBAs) to preserve the country's natural resources.
The coalition stressed the urgency of immediate action to safeguard water resources and national security. As the situation continues to deteriorate, it is essential that the government takes decisive measures to address the galamsey crisis and ensure a sustainable future for Ghana.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0