The National Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has called on Ghanaians to declare a state of emergency on the New Patriotic Party for destroying the water bodies in the country.

This comes on the back of several organizations and individuals calling for a halt to the galamsey menace.

Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana, on behalf of Organised Labour also made a call for immediate government action to combat the ongoing menace of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

The leadership of Organised Labour convened to discuss the dire consequences of illegal mining and its impact on the country’s environment, public health, and economic sustainability.

They expressed deep concern over the growing public discourse on the issue, noting the destruction of forest cover, water bodies, and agricultural lands.

Commenting on the development, the NDC’s National Communication Officer said the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) can fight the galamsey menace.

He further appealed to Ghanaians to vote the NPP out of office for polluting the water bodies.

“If the NPP could not fight Galamsey in 2,805 days (i.e. since 7th January 2017) with Operation Vanguard, GALAMSTOP, etc., they can certainly not fight Galamsey in 86 days whether or not a state of emergency is declared.

“Ghanaians should simply declare a state of emergency on the NPP for destroying our water bodies, forest reserves, and lands and vote them out on December 7, 2024”, he tweeted.

However, the Apostolic Fathers of Ghana are also urging the government to institute a temporary ban on all forms of small-scale mining until the nation finds a long-lasting solution to the menace bedeviling the country.

In a press release signed by Archbishop Duncan Williams on behalf of more than a dozen Apostolic titans, the religious leaders indicated that if the scourge were allowed to go unchecked, the country could bear damaging health and socio-economic impacts.

The revered leaders’ statement comes against a backdrop of numerous calls by many Ghanaians for the president to declare a state of emergency to bolster the country’s efforts in the fight against galamsey.