President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to take immediate and decisive action against illegal mining (galamsey), warning that mere statements and policy pronouncements will not end the menace.
His comments come amid growing concern over environmental degradation in Ghana, following a recent Forestry Commission report indicating that over 9,000 hectares of forest have been destroyed by illegal mining.
The report highlights the scale of deforestation in forest reserves and the urgent need for stronger interventions.
Speaking on The Big Issue, the IMANI President argued that while the efforts of the National Inter-Ministerial Committee on Small-Scale Mining (NAIMOS) have yielded some results, these measures remain insufficient as long as the financiers and major operators behind galamsey continue to operate with impunity.
According to him, tackling illegal mining requires going beyond enforcement at the grassroots.
“It appears that the goodwill of this government seems to be peppering all over some of these evils that are still continuing, and until we hear from the likes of the President who says that galamsey is still going on, we need people.
“Mr. President, enough of the talk, the honeymoon is over, get to work. Get the galamseyers, let’s deal with them and let’s find some refined water,” he said.
