In the wake of intensifying public pressure, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has formed a five-member ministerial committee to tackle the worsening illegal mining (galamsey) crisis.
This comes after strong rebukes from both the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, who have accused the government of paying lip service to a disaster that continues to ravage water bodies, forests, and farmlands.
At a press conference held at the Ghana International Press Center on September 11, 2024, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, made an impassioned plea for immediate and decisive action to combat galamsey, citing the destruction of Ghana’s environment and the threat it poses to livelihoods across the country.
Echoing these concerns, the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining slammed the government for its lackadaisical attitude in addressing the crisis, demanding more than just rhetoric.
In response, the President has announced the formation of the committee to assess the government’s ongoing efforts. The committee is chaired by National Security Minister Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah and includes:
Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah – National Security Minister (Chairperson)
Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor – Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
Hon. Dominic Nitiwul – Minister for Defense
Hon. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah – Minister for Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions
Hon. Fatimatu Abubakar – Minister for Information
According to the statement signed by the Minister of Information, “the committee will engage key stakeholders and provide recommendations on how to strengthen efforts against illegal mining.”
However, questions remain about the outcome of the earlier committee chaired by Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, which was tasked with addressing the same issue. There has been little clarity on the recommendations from that committee or the actions taken following its report.
There is mounting pressure from civil society for the government to implement an immediate ban on galamsey, as the environmental damage continues to escalate, threatening livelihoods and the country’s natural resources.
