BY EDITORIAL TEAM
Over the past week, there has been a growing chorus of calls from various stakeholder groups demanding a ban on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. Many of these groups have given the government a deadline of September 30 to take decisive action.
The Sikaman Times welcomes this growing pressure and urges that it continue until we witness significant improvement in our water bodies.
In response to these calls, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources issued a statement this week, assuring Ghanaians that efforts to combat galamsey are being intensified. This includes a review of current initiatives by local and natural authorities aimed at addressing illegal mining.
On the heels of heightened demand for action, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo established an inter-ministerial committee (for the second time) to tackle the galamsey issue.
While we acknowledge these interventions, The Sikaman Times believes they lack the necessary urgency and force, especially considering the extensive environmental destruction caused by galamsey and the government’s historically insufficient response.
We would prefer the announcement of an immediate ban on all galamsey activities. Perpetrators caught engaging in illegal mining after this ban should be swiftly arrested and processed in specially established anti-galamsey courts.
Only after this decisive action should discussions about reclaiming lands, providing alternative livelihoods for illegal miners, and strengthening mining laws proceed.
We cannot afford to delay with endless meetings and discussions while we stand on the brink of losing a basic necessity of life—water.
Small-scale mining operators have reportedly expressed resistance to a wholesale ban, arguing that some of their members have obtained the necessary documentation and permission to engage in legal mining.
The Sikaman Times strongly disagrees with their stance. We advocate for an immediate total ban on small-scale mining and community mining schemes as a starting point to address the galamsey crisis. It is worth noting that illegal mining constitutes a significant portion of small-scale mining.
Following this, we recommend a reassessment of the operations of legally registered small-scale mining companies. This reassessment should include a physical evaluation of the environmental impact of their activities, which would serve as the basis for issuing fresh permits for small-scale mining.
Such an approach would be in the collective interest of both the legally registered miners and the general populace by ensuring compliance with mining and environmental laws while distinguishing legitimate miners from galamsey operators.
The role of Municipal, Metropolitan, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and traditional chiefs has always been crucial in the fight against galamsey. However, their effectiveness has been undermined by alleged acts of corruption. These institutions must be empowered to collaborate with the appropriate state agencies to prevent illegal mining at the local level. As a check, a whistleblower system should be implemented to report MMDAs and chiefs who fail to take action against destructive mining activities.
Finally, it is critical to keep partisan politics out of the fight against galamsey. At the end of the day, this is about saving our environment, our water bodies, and ultimately our lives—none of which bear party colors. We must act now, united in purpose, to prevent our extinction.
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