President John Dramani Mahama has invited civil society organisations (CSOs) for an engagement on the illegal small-scale mining (Galamseny) to find a lasting solution to the menace.
A letter issued by Dr Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, the dialogue will serve as a platform for frank and constructive discussions aimed at harnessing collective expertise and perspectives.
“This engagement aims to provide a platform for frank and constructive dialogue between the Government and civil society on the menace of illegal mining, with a view to harnessing collective expertise, perspectives, and solutions to address this national challenge,” the letter stated.
President Mahama faced severe criticism the last time he spoke about the issue of illegal small-scale mining during an encounter with the press at the Jubilee House.
For instance, a Civil Society activist, Dr Steve Manteaw, said that the comment by President Mahama was not what the National Democratic Congress (NDC) promised Ghanaians.
In a Facebook post titled “My take on John Dramani Mahama’s comments on galamsey,” Dr Manteaw said “It focuses more on the benefit side of the equation, than the cost side i.e. how much it cost the country in environmental damage, food security, health implication, water scarcity, and remediation, to generate the $6 billion being reported as returns on our small-scale gold exports.
“lt does not keep faith with the NDC’s electoral pledge. It’s at variance with the OECD guidelines on responsible mineral sourcing and therefore rules Ghana out of mainstream gold markets. It heightens the risk of money laundering and the financing of Serious Organised Crime (SOC). Ghana risks international sanctions if we don’t take decisive action against the galamsey menace.
“But, I’m also aware that, the GoldBod is committed, and that commitment is reinforced by its statute of establishment, to disrupt market opportunities for galamsey gold through the establishment of a gold traceability system / block chain technological intervention that tracks gold from the pit to the refinery. This was a major topic for discussion at the just-ended Minerals and Mining Convention.Perhaps, the president should have emphasised this, rather than appear to be giving up on the country’s fight against galamsey. I’ve always maintained that brute force alone will not deliver the outcome we seek. The approach ought to be multi-faceted.”
Similarly, the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey said President Mahama’s posture in dealing with galamsey “does not inspire hope” in tackling the menace.
In a statement issued on September 11, 2025 and signed by Convenor of the Group, Kenneth Ashigbey, they noted that the President’s statement on September 10, 2025 at the Presidential Media Encounter at Jubilee House did not “convey the urgency required in the fight to rid this country of unprecedented environmental terrorism.”
“This government’s handling of the galamsey crisis is a disappointment to us all; this government is failing us.
“The posture has downplayed the severity of the crisis, which has led to the pollution of over 60% of waterbodies with heavy metals, the displacement of farmers both for cash and food crops, and the devastation of our forest reserves,” the statement indicated.
According to the Coalition, government’s withdrawal of police forces undertaking anti-galamsey operations is “misplaced”.
The Coalition dared the President to identify any small-scale mining company engaging in responsible mining.
“We challenge the Presidency to name a single licensed small-scale mining entity that is mining responsibly on the ground. We welcome NAIMOS, but have we resourced them sufficiently to deal decisively as needed?,” the statement added.
“His statement that alternatives must be provided before chasing miners is compared to justifying and emboldening illegality.
“This is not the leadership expected for a country facing environmental suicide, contaminated cocoa exports, and rising health crises now and for our newborns,” the Coalition stressed.
On the President’s rejection of calls for a declaration of state of emergency, the Coalition disagreed with the President stating that the situation on grounds have not improved since his assumption of office.
“Finally, we disagree entirely with the President on the position of government regarding calls for a targeted state of emergency, as the circumstances that prevailed when he joined civil society to demand a state of emergency before his election as President have not improved; in fact, some of the indices have worsened,” they noted.
The Coalition has called on Ghanaians to partake in its comprehensive media briefing on Monday, September 15, 2025, at the International Press Center.
