Galamsey: Gov’t efforts not reflecting in water bodies, state of emergency needed

Former Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Henry Kokofu, has backed calls for the declaration of a state of emergency to tackle illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

According to him, if the government’s fight against galamsey is truly effective, the progress should reflect in the improved state of the country’s water bodies.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Institute of Economic Affairs’ seminar series on Ghana’s natural resource management regime, Mr. Kokofu said the current situation demands urgent and decisive action.

“He who calls for the band must dance to their tunes. The current president called it, and so he must go ahead and do it. I am a natural resource person, and we are all seeing the menace and what is happening.

“Agriculture is declining, the cocoa industry is also declining, and you have the fundamental commodity which sustains life — water — being polluted. So why wouldn’t you be alarmed or worried?” he said.

The debate over declaring a state of emergency has reignited in recent weeks, following President John Dramani Mahama’s comments at a media encounter that such an option could be considered if all other measures are exhausted.

His remarks, however, have drawn criticism from sections of the public, particularly civil society organisations and groups directly impacted by the destructive effects of galamsey.