Mahama to engage Civil Society on tackling galamsey

President John Dramani Mahama has called on civil society organisations (CSOs) to participate in high-level discussions aimed at finding lasting solutions to the galamsey menace.

The meeting, scheduled for Friday, October 3, 2025, at 12:00 noon at the Jubilee House, will bring together key government officials and CSO leaders to address the environmental and social challenges posed by illegal small-scale mining.

According to a letter from Dr Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, the dialogue will provide a platform for frank and constructive exchanges between the Government and civil society. The initiative is intended to leverage the collective expertise of participants to tackle galamsey and develop actionable strategies to curb its impact.

President Mahama’s outreach to civil society comes after previous remarks on illegal mining drew criticism from some activists, who argued that past comments did not align fully with the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s electoral promises. Dr Steve Manteaw, a leading civil society voice, noted that the President’s earlier statements fell short of addressing public expectations on galamsey reform.

The government has announced plans to station the military and other security agencies at critical river bodies in a renewed effort to curb illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

The move, according to the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry, is intended to safeguard the nation’s water resources from further devastation.

Meanwhil, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana, explained that unlike the Blue Water Guard operations, which are temporary, the military deployment will serve as a stronger and more lasting deterrent. “Illegal miners usually return to the sites after being dispersed, which makes the current approach unsustainable,” he said. He added that creating permanent security zones along rivers would provide continuous enforcement and prevent miners from regrouping.

But the plan has already drawn criticism from former Lands and Natural Resources Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor, who questioned whether the move offers anything new. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, he recalled that under his tenure, water bodies and forest reserves were already classified as red zones. “We even went as far as burning excavators found 200 meters from the riverbanks and forest reserves. So the question is, what new implications or enforcement measures will this declaration bring?” he asked.

Mr. Jinapor further argued that what the public expects is for President John Mahama to honour the National Democratic Congress’ campaign pledge to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining, which he described as the “most effective tool” to deal with the menace. He also cautioned against politicising the fight, stressing that both the NDC and the NPP must work together to protect the country’s forests and water bodies.