Story by Fada Amakye
The Ghana Chamber of Mines has expressed concern over the persistence of illegal mining (galamsey) in the country, despite efforts to combat it. Dr. Ken Ashigbey, CEO of the Chamber, has called for urgent action to address the issue, emphasizing that the government must provide adequate resources to the National Alternative Mining Scheme (Nimos) to tackle environmental destruction caused by mining.
The Chamber is urging the government to empower district police officers with necessary resources to carry out consistent on-site enforcement. Additionally, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) must address persistent issues of corruption and complicity within the police force, which have hindered effective action against illegal mining.
The IGP should also complete transfers of police commanders in regions, divisions, districts, and stations endemic with galamsey and set clear galamsey-related Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for new commanders.
A state of emergency has been proposed to deal with illegal mining, with confiscated excavators to be auctioned at 110% of their value to support joint enforcement efforts. Dr. Ashigbey cited the UK’s approach to dealing with riots as an example, where swift justice was administered to deter future occurrences.
The Chamber emphasizes that there must be zero tolerance for illegal and irresponsible mining, as it poses serious risks to national security and sets a dangerous precedent.
With these measures, the Chamber believes that Ghana can effectively combat illegal mining and protect its natural resources.
