Youth in Natural Resources and Environment Governance (Youth-NREG) has called on the government to take immediate action to combat illegal mining (galamsey).
In a press statement shared across their platforms, Youth-NREG condemned the activities currently destroying water bodies, forest reserves, and posing serious health risks to Ghanaians.
The statement read:
The Youth in Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (Youth-NREG) Platform, composed of young climate and environmental advocates in Ghana, is deeply concerned about the rampant irresponsible and illegal mining activities (galamsey) that continue to devastate Ghana’s forest reserves, agricultural lands, and water bodies. So far, 34 forest reserves and 4 major rivers have been severely damaged by these activities, leading to a loss of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and livelihoods. This ongoing destruction threatens the survival of citizens and amounts to Ecocide—a crime against our environment and future.
We acknowledge the calls from various stakeholders, including religious leaders, civil society organizations, the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, and environmental advocates, for decisive action against these activities. The Government of Ghana, however, bears the ultimate responsibility for enforcing existing laws, holding accountable those responsible for this environmental destruction, and ensuring the restoration of the devastated ecosystems.
In light of this, the Youth-NREG Platform calls on the Government of Ghana to take the following actions:
1. Stop all forms of illegal mining activities immediately.
2. Temporarily suspend all legal mining activities to comprehensively review and enforce existing policies and regulations.
3. Cancel all prospective mining contracts and licenses.
4. Ensure that all companies and individuals involved in, or found guilty of, irresponsible mining and the destruction of forest reserves or water bodies are surcharged and made to bear the cost of restoring the damaged ecosystems.
5. Make clear budgetary allocations from the national budget to support District or Municipal Assemblies in fighting galamsey and irresponsible mining.
6. Repeal, with immediate effect, L.I. 2462, which we find highly destructive to our environment and future.
7. Collaborate closely with community leaders, the media, and civil society organizations to improve surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement across the country’s forest reserves and rivers.
8. Present a blueprint of pragmatic livelihood alternatives for young people involved in irresponsible or illegal mining activities.
The time for action is now. Irresponsible mining is not only an environmental issue but also an injustice, violating the right to a clean environment and good health for present and future generations. We, therefore, urge the Government of Ghana to lead the charge in holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring that the damage caused to our natural resources is reversed—especially since Ghana has signed onto international protocols and conventions that mandate us to promote and ensure environmental protection.
We at Youth-NREG remain resolute in our commitment to working with the government, civil society, media, religious bodies, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders to protect Ghana’s environment and promote sustainable development for future generations.
We call on all Ghanaian youth to support and actively contribute to interventions that will lead to the restoration and protection of our ecosystems. Let us remember that our survival as humans depends on how well we manage the environment!
