The discussions and campaigns against illegal mining activities (galamsey) resurfaced a few weeks ago when the Ghana Water Limited disclosed that galamsey activities and the subsequent pollution of the Pra River have made it impossible to supply quality water to residents in Cape Coast and its surrounding areas in the Central Region.

Many organisations and associations have since joined the campaign, mounting pressure on the government to ban illegal mining.

They have threatened to take action if the government fails to act.

GhanaWeb puts together a list of the associations that have joined the calls for a ban on galamsey activities.

Health Sector Associations and Unions

On September 6, 2024, the Ghana Medical Association, along with other health unions, demanded an immediate ban on all small-scale mining operations, whether legal or illegal.

Other demands include strengthening of regulatory directives, providing resources to security agencies for a crackdown on individuals who flout government orders, and a declaration by political parties on their commitment to fighting illegal mining in the country.

The unions are the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA), the Health Services Workers Union of Ghana (TUC), the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU), the Mortuary Workers’ Association of Ghana (MOWAG), the Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anesthetists (GACRA), the Health Accounting Staff Association (HASAG), and the Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA).

UTAG

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) is calling for an immediate nationwide ban on all forms of mining and prospecting for gold and other minerals in forest reserves, farmland, and rivers.

They have warned that they will embark on a nationwide industrial action if no action is taken by the government by the end of September 2024.

PFAG

The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) are also calling on the government to impose an immediate ban on illegal mining to protect the environment, farmers’ livelihoods, and food security.

Occupy Ghana

The Civil Society Organization has called for the prosecution of individuals involved in mining activities within protected areas.

In a statement dated September 10, 2024, they suggested that taking legal action against offenders would deter others from engaging in illegal mining and help preserve the environment.

“Take Immediate Action Against Galamsey Offenders! We call for urgent legal action against persons and companies accused of illegal mining, especially in protected areas. Government inaction, especially concerning politically connected entities, has fostered impunity and undermined public trust. This must be addressed forthwith.

“Confiscate all Galamsey Lands! We propose an amendment to the law to criminalise landowners making lands available for Galamsey. Unless a landowner can prove that their land was forcibly taken over (by having made a contemporaneous report to the police) they should be taken to have abetted the offence by facilitating it.

“These lands should therefore be confiscated as ‘tainted property’ and then repurposed for public benefit, including reforestation, farming or even regulated mining,” parts of the statement read.

Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference

The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference has criticised the government for its lack of effort to eradicate the galamsey menace and its activities since taking office.

Addressing the devastating impact of galamsey activities in the country at a press conference on Wednesday September 11, 2024, Most Rev. Matthew Kwesi Gyamfi, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, stated that the government's measures and attempts to combat the issue have been inconsistent.

He attributed the exacerbation of galamsey activities to a lack of political will and the complicity of political leaders and chiefs.

“Despite the existence of environmental protection laws, their enforcement has been weak and inconsistent. Corruption, complicity of political leaders, some chiefs and the lack of political will have further exacerbated the problem allowing illegal mining to thrive unchecked,” he said.

Rev. Gyamfi called for immediate action from the government and urged every Ghanaian to join the effort to ensure that galamsey is eradicated from the country.

"We wish to state that Ghanaians can no longer tolerate the lip service of government of whatever color in the fight against galamsey and we call for action not tomorrow but now and right from this press conference and all hands must get on board,” he urged.

More unions are expected to join the campaign.

Meanwhile, the government has yet to respond to these demands.

MAG/AE