The Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, has expressed disappointment with the government’s response to illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, stating that no decisive actions have been taken to combat the issue.
Speaking at the First Akoto Ampaw Lecture on “The Crisis of Civic Citizenship in Contemporary Ghanaian Democracy” on Wednesday, October 23, Prof. Prempeh emphasized the ongoing destruction of major river bodies and forest reserves across the country due to illegal mining activities.
He criticized all major political parties for their lack of commitment and resolve in the fight against galamsey.
“The third example of our democracy’s apparent inability to solve critical problems comes from the story of galamsey or illegal artisanal mining. Again, despite the scale and gravity of the devastation of its widespread practices, which is causing to the country’s ecology, water supply system and intended public health, resolute action has not been forthcoming from the political classes and here, they do not even pretend to conceal their self-serving reasons for not acting resolutely to stop the ecocide,” he stated.
In response to the ongoing crisis, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has revived Operation Halt, deploying military personnel to forest reserves and water bodies to curb illegal mining activities.
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