By Emelia B. Addae
Koforidua, Nov. 03, GNA – A high-level national multi-stakeholder dialogue on illegal mining has ended in Koforidua with a call for a coordinated national effort rooted in justice, equity, and sustainability to address the galamsey menace.
The two-day dialogue, spearheaded by Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), had representatives from government, parliament, civil society organisations, academia, religious leadership, the private sector, and the media at the Eastern Premier Hotel in the Eastern Region.
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting identified weak enforcement of mining regulations, overlapping institutional mandates, logistical constraints, and a perceived lack of political will as major contributors to the crisis.
It also cited the proliferation of heavy machinery and toxic substances such as mercury, which continue to degrade water bodies, forests, and biodiversity.
“The destructive ramifications of illegal mining are well-known, yet, enforcement remains fragmented and ineffective,” the communiqué stated.
Participants highlighted the erosion of traditional authority, breakdown of community cohesion, and the disruptive influence of youth wealth acquired through galamsey.
The widening gap between public rhetoric and enforcement realities, they warned, is fostering distrust and undermining the rule of law.
To address these challenges, the dialogue proposed a series of legal, institutional, and community-based reforms. Key among them was the repeal of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462 and the expedited adoption of LI 2501 to safeguard forest reserves.
Other recommendations included harmonising the mandates of regulatory bodies such as the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Authority, Forestry Commission, and Water Resources Commission to eliminate duplication and conflict.
Legal instruments were also proposed to hold public officials accountable for regulatory failures.
In line with the Minamata Convention on Mercury (2013), the communiqué called for the repeal of laws permitting mercury use in mining and the adoption of safer alternatives.
It recommended parliamentary vetting for mineral rights in ecologically sensitive areas and public disclosure of all mining licenses.
On financial oversight, the dialogue urged stronger collaboration with the Bank of Ghana, Financial Intelligence Centre, and Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to trace illicit financial flows linked to illegal mining.
It also proposed anti-money laundering enforcement, blockchain-based gold traceability, and stricter documentation for bulk gold transactions.
A dedicated Mining Ombudsman Office was recommended to handle community complaints, alongside the establishment of an independent Galamsey Accountability Commission to monitor reform implementation and report to Parliament.
In a keynote address, Nene Sackitey II, President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, called on traditional authorities and all stakeholders to join the fight against galamsey, adding that, “We must act now to save lives and protect our land.”
GNA
Edited by D.I. Laary/Linda Asante Agyei