The Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has highlighted the economic importance of illegal mining, popularly known as "galamsey," and explained why it cannot be banned entirely.

In a video shared on social media, the former president is heard addressing a gathering, where he stated that galamsey is responsible for Ghana's increased gold exports and has also helped reduce unemployment.

“The fight against galamsey will be very difficult because gold is currently sustaining Ghana’s economy, and it's largely due to galamsey. We used to produce 80 tons per year, but now we are producing 135 tons, and the additional tons come from galamsey. So, if we ban galamsey, production will decrease, our exports will reduce, and unemployment will rise dramatically because all the people involved in galamsey will become jobless,” John Mahama said.

Many Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency over the illegal mining menace in the country.

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has also reiterated this call, insisting that drastic measures are needed to address the destructive impact of galamsey on the country’s environment and water bodies.

At the 28th GJA Awards and 75th-anniversary celebration in Accra, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour emphasised that the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining requires urgent action.

He argued that declaring a state of emergency would empower authorities to enforce mining laws more effectively and put an end to the devastating activities.

Dwumfour pointed out that despite numerous interventions and policies aimed at combating galamsey, the issue persists, with significant harm to Ghana's natural resources.

He urged the president to act decisively, warning that the consequences of inaction would be dire for future generations and the country’s ecosystem.

John Mahama outlines the IMPORTANCE OF GALAMSEY and why it can’t be banned, “The fight against Galamsey will be very difficult, because Gold is the one holding Ghana now and it’s because of Galamsey, we were making 80 tons per year but now we’re doing 135 tons, the added tons are… pic.twitter.com/4nI64q6x90

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