The unchecked scourge of illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, continues to devastate Ghana’s environment polluting rivers, destroying forests and threatening public health.
As the crisis deepens, a wave of criticism is mounting against President John Dramani Mahama over what many describe as his administration’s slow and ineffective response.
Over the weekend, prominent voices joined the chorus of concerned citizens, demanding urgent action from the Jubilee House to stem the environmental damage.
Among the most outspoken was Dr. Cadman Atta Mills, former Senior Presidential Advisor and brother of the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Dr. Mills lashed out at the Mahama administration, accusing it of prioritising short-term economic gains over environmental and public health.
“I refuse to pay for the accolades president Mahama and the NDC are receiving for the Cedi’s recovery with my health or life.
“Call it Galamsey or ‘legal’ small-scale mining (when bankrolled by the politically connected). It is killing us. #StopGalamseyNow,” he posted.
The former World Bank Economist expressed disbelief at the government’s inaction and questioned when President Mahama would decisively lead the nation in addressing what he called a catastrophic environmental threat.”
“What will it take for us to act?? Mr President, this is the water that feeds a huge chunk of the central region, thanks to ‘legal small-scale mining’!” he wrote in another post.
His comments have since sparked widespread discussion online, with many echoing his frustrations and fears.
Adding his voice to the public outrage, private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, also criticised the government’s handling of the situation.
Speaking on TV3 over the weekend, Martin Kpebu called on the Jubilee House to reinstate specialised personnel who had been withdrawn from anti-galamsey operations.
“We need trained, knowledgeable officers on the ground who can distinguish between legal and illegal operators.
“Right now, there’s too much confusion and speculation because there’s no clear presence or oversight,” he said.
Martin Kpebu also rejected proposals to deploy the military to police forest reserves, insisting that the constitution assigns enforcement responsibilities to the police—not the military.
“Let the Ghana Police Service do its job. We don’t need soldiers in the forests. This is a law enforcement matter, not a military one,” he emphasised.
The growing public dissatisfaction underscores increasing pressure on President Mahama and the government to act swiftly and decisively to combat galamsey, which continues to threaten Ghana’s ecosystems, water bodies and food security.
