Private legal practitioner Victoria Bright has expressed outrage over what she describes as the worsening galamsey menace in Ghana, warning that the country is dangerously close to losing the battle against illegal mining.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Monday, 10 November, Ms Bright said the situation has assumed alarming dimensions, with illegal miners now openly defying state authority, including the military.
“I think this issue with galamsey is taking on so many different dimensions. Look, only last week we saw the military running away from galamseyers. Who is in charge? And when you start seeing that kind of thing, then you have to start worrying about security,” she said.
The lawyer lamented that galamsey has deeply infiltrated every aspect of national life, leaving behind devastating environmental and health consequences.
“It’s literally permeated every aspect of our society in a very negative way — every aspect, whether it’s our forests or human health. Look at these children, even women, girls reaching puberty at six — I mean, all sorts of issues,” she stressed.
Ms Bright criticised the lack of progress in tackling the menace despite years of public campaigns and government interventions, noting that Ghana continues to “beat the same old drums” while expecting different outcomes.
“Something has to change because we cannot keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results,” she remarked.
She described as shocking the growing audacity of illegal miners, recalling recent incidents where security personnel were attacked, as well as the 6 August helicopter crash, which claimed the lives of what she called “some of Ghana’s finest officials.”
“These guys are now defying our security forces—I mean, the audacity is shocking. People have died because of this—so many people. And then, in fact, look at the August 6 helicopter crash—some fine, fine Ghanaians, some of our finest, died,” she said.
Ms Bright further warned that no Ghanaian is immune to the effects of galamsey, as polluted rivers and contaminated farmlands continue to threaten the nation’s food and water security.
“Even those who say they don’t care because they can buy water — yes, people can buy water, but you have to bathe with the same water. Whatever it is, somehow, some of it will touch you,” she noted.
She concluded with a passionate appeal for decisive national action to end the illegal mining menace before it eradicates the country.
“It has to stop because either it stops us, or we stop it. Either galamsey stops us, or we stop it,” she declared emphatically.
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