Presidential Candidates Face Pressure to Join Anti-Galamsey Pact Ahead of Elections
A Unified Pledge to Protect Ghana’s Environment and Future Generations
- Signing the pact is seen as a crucial step toward protecting water bodies, forests, and natural resources
- The initiative seeks to unify presidential candidates under a shared commitment to tackle the galamsey menace
- Candidates who sign will be held to their promise, ensuring accountability in addressing illegal mining
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) has called on all presidential candidates for the 2024 elections to commit to a national pledge aimed at combating illegal mining, or galamsey, prior to the December elections.
This plea comes after the recent signing of the 4th Presidential Peace Pact, which highlighted the importance of a unified approach to address national challenges. GCAG, a diverse coalition of media representatives, labor organizations, religious bodies, youth groups, academic institutions, civil society, traditional leaders, and businesses, has reached out to the candidates, requesting their signatures in support of the anti-galamsey pledge.
The coalition emphasized that by signing this pledge, candidates would demonstrate their commitment to addressing the serious environmental threats posed by galamsey, including damage to water resources, forests, and overall ecological sustainability. The pact is seen as a crucial step toward safeguarding the nation’s natural resources for future generations.
“By signing this pact, presidential candidates will show their political will and leadership in tackling this critical issue with far-reaching effects on the environment, economy, and public health,” the GCAG stated. “Failure to sign this pact may contribute to the continuation of an environmental crisis with severe consequences for Ghana.”
On Thursday, December 5, 2024, GCAG will announce the candidates who have signed the anti-galamsey pledge.
