Private legal practitioner Victoria Bright has called for the declaration of a state of emergency to tackle the growing menace of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, describing it as an existential threat to the nation.
Her call follows a viral video showing a police reinforcement team rescuing nine soldiers from a violent confrontation with illegal miners at Ahafo Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region.
The soldiers, reportedly on national assignment in Goaso, had discovered an illegal mining site at Bronikrom near Hwidiem and arrested the site owner. They allegedly seized two vehicles, mobile phones, and pistols, and set fire to wooden structures and equipment belonging to the miners.
In retaliation, an angry mob vandalised a Toyota Hilux pickup (AD 7191-25) belonging to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations (NAIMOS) team and attempted to attack the soldiers before police intervention.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, Ms. Bright expressed frustration over the lack of decisive action, insisting that the consequences of inaction are already visible.
“As for the consequences of not dealing with it, they are there; they are known to all of us. They are so dire that I wonder why it doesn’t seem to bother these people who are perpetrating illegal mining,” she said.
She questioned the motivation of those involved in galamsey, stressing that Ghanaians must uphold values that go beyond the pursuit of money.
“I wonder whether they are Ghanaians—of course, they are Ghanaians—but I just wonder what motivates them beyond money. As human beings, we have to stand for more than just money. You have to stand for something,” she noted.
Ms. Bright emphasised that illegal mining is not a partisan issue but a national one, warning that the continued destruction of natural resources poses a grave threat to the country’s future.
“This is a national problem. It is not an NDC problem; it is not an NPP problem. It is a Ghanaian problem because it is an existential threat to us as Ghanaians,” she stated.
She further described the recent clash between civilians and soldiers as “ridiculous,” urging the government to take bold and urgent steps to protect national security.
“These people cannot be allowed to take over. How can we have a situation where civilians are rescuing the military? It’s ridiculous. This riot, over and over again—we have to do something. I think and I have said this before, and I know how difficult it is for the government, but maybe we should now consider the state of emergency we’ve all been talking about,” she added.
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