Coalition of CSOs outlines four key demands to combat galamsey crisis - Onlinetimesgh

Coalition of CSOs outlines four key demands to combat galamsey crisis

The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) focused on Extractives, Anti-Corruption, and Good Governance has presented a comprehensive four-point action plan to the government, demanding immediate intervention to halt the devastating impact of illegal mining on Ghana’s environment

During the Africa Water Week Partners Press Engagement on Galamsey on Monday, October 28, the Coalition highlighted its intent to confront the “political economy enabler of galamsey,” which it claims has repeatedly undermined efforts by successive governments to address the issue.

The Coalition cited a recent report by the Fourth Estate, which underscored the role of certain state actors and local government officials in enabling illegal mining within protected forest reserves, raising critical concerns about the government’s integrity in combating galamsey.

They further referenced findings from Tiger Eye P.I. investigations, which implicated members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee in allegedly accepting bribes to protect illegal mining operations.

The Coalition argued that such revelations have “severely eroded public trust in the government’s commitment to addressing the crisis,” leading to skepticism regarding the government’s motives and actions.

According to the Coalition, its key demand is the immediate revocation of all mining licenses for activities within forest and protected areas. This call to action reflects widespread concern over the degradation of Ghana’s natural resources due to mining activities in ecologically sensitive regions.

The Coalition’s second demand is the repeal of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulation 2022 (L.I. 2462). The regulation, which permits mining within forest reserves, has been widely criticized for enabling environmental destruction and undermining previous conservation efforts. The Coalition stated that “repealing this regulation is crucial to restoring public trust and demonstrating the government’s genuine commitment to environmental protection.”

In place of the existing Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, the Coalition proposed establishing a Multi-stakeholder Group. This new body, according to the Coalition, would ensure a more transparent and inclusive approach to addressing illegal mining, as a diverse group of stakeholders would bring a broader perspective and stronger strategies to mitigate the impact of galamsey.

The Coalition also called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to publicly commit to “concrete and lasting measures” aimed at eradicating illegal mining by 2025. The Coalition’s appeal reflects a rising public demand for political leaders to take decisive action against the illegal mining crisis.

The Coalition’s demands collectively signal a pressing need for systemic reform and heightened accountability in Ghana’s strategy to combat galamsey. As the Coalition emphasized, any meaningful commitment to ending illegal mining must address the “underlying political and economic enablers” that continue to allow this menace to thrive.

The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) focused on Extractives, Anti-Corruption, and Good Governance includes key organizations such as:

Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP)
Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)
iWatch Africa
Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC)
SEND Ghana
Third World Network Africa
Revenue Mobilization Africa (RMA)
Institute for Energy Security (IES)
Centre for Extractives and Development Africa (CEDA)
IMANI Centre for Policy and Education

 

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