Ghana is gradually losing the battle against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has warned.
Speaking to Kwamina Sam Biney on the Bryt Adekyee Mu Nsem Morning Show on Bryt FM, Dr. Ashigbey expressed deep concern over the worsening state of the country’s water bodies and the slow progress in tackling illegal mining activities.
According to him, rivers and water sources have been heavily polluted as a result of galamsey operations, warning that the situation continues to deteriorate despite ongoing national efforts to curb the menace.
“We have not published the state of our water bodies, and we are not prosecuting people involved in kingpins,” he said, stressing that enforcement gaps and lack of accountability are weakening the fight against illegal mining.
Dr. Ashigbey noted that Ghana still has a long way to go in winning the war against galamsey, calling for stronger institutional action, transparency in reporting the state of water resources, and tougher sanctions against those driving illegal mining operations.
His comments add to growing concerns from environmental experts and key stakeholders, who continue to warn that illegal mining poses a serious threat to water security, agriculture, and public health if urgent measures are not taken.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines CEO emphasized that without decisive action and stronger political will, the country risks reversing years of progress in environmental protection and natural resource management.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Nhyiraba Solomon Nartey
