By Yaw Opoku Amoako
Copyright ghanaguardian
The Coalition Against Illegal Mining is once again urging government to declare a state of emergency in parts of the country hardest hit by galamsey, warning that the menace has become a direct threat to livelihoods, public health, and national security.
At a press briefing in Accra on Monday, September 15, the group’s Convenor, Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, said the situation meets the constitutional grounds for such a drastic measure.
“We are demanding immediate action in line with Article 31, which allows for a state of emergency when essential resources like potable water are endangered.
Galamsey has already deprived countless communities of safe drinking water, and that is nothing short of a national crisis,” Dr. Ashigbey declared.
The coalition pointed to Ghana Water Limited’s recent request for tariff increases as proof of how expensive water treatment has become due to polluted rivers and streams.
It further urged the utility company to publish nationwide turbidity data so the public can see whether treated water meets World Health Organisation standards.
Beyond emergency measures, the group pressed government to hold complicit officials accountable, stressing that the blame cannot be shifted entirely onto past administrations.
According to the coalition, prosecutions are long overdue if Ghana is to show seriousness in tackling the galamsey menace.
