Convenor of the Anti-Galamsey Coalition, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has called on government to impose a state of emergency in areas most affected by illegal mining, asserting that extraordinary measures are needed to confront the growing menace.
His plea follows the tragic helicopter crash on 6th August, which claimed the lives of eight people who were en route to an anti-galamsey event in Obuasi.
In the aftermath of the incident, the government announced a renewed push to tackle illegal mining across the country.
In an interview on Channel One TV on Monday, 18th August, Dr. Ashigbey stressed that galamsey should be treated as a national security threat.
“We need to address this as a national security crisis, and it must be confronted head-on,” he stated. “One of the things we’ve been advocating for is the declaration of a state of emergency. We’re not suggesting this for the entire country or even the whole district. Where the issue is most pressing, like certain communities, we should declare a state of emergency.”
Dr. Ashigbey pointed to Dunkwa in the Central Region as a case in point, suggesting that the government could declare a state of emergency in areas such as the Offin River to curtail illegal mining activities.
“For instance, in Dunkwa, around Offin River, the government could declare a state of emergency, prohibiting access to the water.
“This would allow the police and the Forestry Commission to be empowered to take decisive action against illegal miners,” he explained.
He reiterated the Coalition’s stance that robust enforcement of the law is vital to safeguarding Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves from the destructive impact of galamsey.
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