The Media Coalition Against Galamsey (MCAG) wants government to as a matter of urgency order all small-scale and surface mining activities to stop immediately to allow water bodies and forests to be restored.
A statement issued by the Coalition stressed that it’s critical for government to strategize a way to bring sanity to all surface mining activities in Ghana.
“…It is apparent that Government and other relevant stakeholders have not demonstrated enough commitment and leadership towards the fight against illegal mining activities and we are currently in a worse situation than when we started. For example, the annual average turbidity levels at the Daboase headworks on the Pra river has worsened from 1,180 in 2020, 2,588 in 2021, and 2634 in 2022.
“In view of this, the Media Coalition Against Galamsey believes that urgent and radical measures need to be adopted by Government that will result in positive change of the state of our water bodies and preservation of our environment for our survival and that of the future generation,” said the Coalition its statement.
It further advised government to ensure that the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended, is enforced without fear or favour, adding that ‘Powerful’ people involved in Galamsey activities in the country should be exposed and sanctioned to serve as a deterrent.
“Arrest, investigate and prosecute everyone involved in the illegality including the Akonta Mining Ltd and its Directors, Bernard Bosiako and Kwame Antwi, for illegally mining in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve as well as breaching (Section 99(6) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by mining very close along the banks of Tano River.”
For MCEs/DCEs in whose areas of jurisdiction illegal mining has taken place and still continues based on evidence on the ground, the Coalition urged government not to hesitate in removing such appointees.
