Media Coalition Calls for Renewed Action Against Illegal Mining Following Obuasi Clash
Call for stronger government action and involvement of traditional leaders in tackling galamsey crisis.
- The Media Coalition Against Galamsey is urging a renewed and more aggressive approach to combat illegal mining
- The Coalition expressed concerns that the current efforts to tackle the issue have lost momentum.
- Supporting President Mahama's call for an investigation, Ashigbey stressed that those responsible must be held accountable
The Media Coalition Against Galamsey is urging a renewed and more aggressive approach to combat illegal mining following a deadly clash at AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi Mines.
The violent incident has raised alarms about the escalating threat posed by illegal mining, which continues to pollute Ghana’s water bodies and devastate vegetation.
The Coalition expressed concerns that the current efforts to tackle the issue have lost momentum.
Kenneth Ashigbey, Convenor of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, emphasized the need for swift, decisive measures to prevent further tragedies in mining areas.
He called for a cease and desist order to hold illegal miners accountable and ensure that authorities take stronger action. “We need a multidimensional approach to address this wicked problem,” he said, urging citizens not to remain passive but to support governmental efforts to curb illegal mining.
Ashigbey also criticized the government’s seeming lack of priority in addressing galamsey, noting the decline in advocacy efforts since the change in leadership.
He pointed out that while President Mahama has acted swiftly on various national issues, the fight against illegal mining has not received the same urgency. “Even though there was a pact against galamsey signed through the Media Coalition, we can’t say the same for this issue,” he added.
The Coalition condemned the actions of the illegal miners involved in the attack on military personnel, describing it as a criminal act. Ashigbey stated, “No military man acting within the rules would shoot at individuals who have surrendered. However, the military must defend themselves when attacked.”
Supporting President Mahama’s call for an investigation, Ashigbey stressed that those responsible must be held accountable, regardless of their position.
He also suggested involving traditional leaders, including chiefs, queen mothers, and traditional priests, in the fight against galamsey, as they play a crucial role in governance around mining activities.
“The frequent attacks on legal mining sites require collective action from all sectors of society, including our traditional leaders,” he concluded.
