PRESS RELEASE: CCAL Calls For State Of Environmental Emergency And The Launch Of Cooperative Mining Framework In Atewa Landscape

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CCAL Calls for State of Environmental Emergency and Launch of Cooperative Mining Framework in Atewa Landscape
The Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape (CCAL) is calling on the Government of Ghana to urgently declare a State of Environmental Emergency in the Atewa Landscape in response to the increasing destruction of forests, water bodies, and farmlands caused by unregulated mining activities.
The Atewa Landscape remains a critical national asset, serving as a major water source and ecological zone. However, ongoing illegal mining activities continue to threaten its survival and the livelihoods of surrounding communities.
CCAL emphasizes that while mining is an important economic activity, the current unstructured and illegal practices are unsustainable and dangerous.
As part of a practical and forward-looking solution, CCAL is advocating for the immediate implementation of a Cooperative Mining Framework.
This framework seeks to:

Identify and register all miners operating within the Atewa Landscape
Organize miners into structured and legally recognized cooperatives
Provide mandatory training in responsible mining and environmental protection
Restrict mining licenses to cooperatives only
Enforce land reclamation and restoration measures
CCAL further calls for the establishment of a multi-stakeholder consortium involving:
Traditional Authorities
District Assemblies
Government agencies responsible for lands, minerals, and the environment
Civil Society Organizations
This consortium will coordinate efforts to ensure responsible mining, environmental restoration, and sustainable livelihoods.
CCAL believes that the declaration of a State of Environmental Emergency will provide the urgency and authority required to implement these reforms effectively, including the rapid identification, registration, training, and organization of miners into cooperatives.
The organization stands ready to support this process through community engagement, technical support in land reclamation, and stakeholder coordination.
CCAL will be engaging the media, government institutions, and traditional leaders in the coming days to advance this agenda.
The time to act is now.
Signed
Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape (CCAL)