The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) has described as unfortunate, the President’s refusal to convey the much-needed urgency in the fight against galamsey in the country.

This comes after President John Dramani Mahama’s Presidential Media Encounter at the Jubilee House on September 11, 2025.

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According to the group, the President’s posture was devoid of the required urgency expected of leading the charge against the activities of ‘galamseyers’.

They believe his posture ‘downplayed the severity of a crisis, which has led to the pollution of over 60% of waterbodies with heavy metals, the displacement of farmers … and the devastation of our forest reserves.”

The President, while addressing the media, noted that it was becoming increasingly difficult for security personnel fighting ‘galamseyers’ to identify licensed small-scale miners from illegal miners, therefore raising the call for alternative means in approaching the dire situation.

Kenneth Ashigbey, one of the leaders of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, however, believe otherwise. For them, the call for alternative methods of approach was similtude to a subtle call ‘emboldening the illegality’. They argue, this is not the kind of leadership expected in a country battling ‘environmental terrorism’

The statement read, “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 newborns.”

They also called out the President over his decision to withdraw Police Forces deployed to fight illegal miners in designated mining communities, describing the decision as ‘misplaced’. For them, though the Police Officers may not have been perfect in the discharge of their duties, they however remained charged and fearless.

“His withdrawal of police forces and accusation that they cannot distinguish legal from illegal miners is misplaced. The IGP’s men, though not perfect, were fearless and had brought the situation under control. We challenge the Presidency to name a single licensed small-scale mining entity that is mining responsibly on the ground,” the statement read.

They further slammed the President over his claim that prevailing situations that called for his involvement in the push towards the use of force against illegal miners had improved since he assumed power.

They cited the closure of the Kwanyako Water Treatment Plant in the Central Region as clear evidence of worsening conditions in the country.

“We disagree entirely with the President on the position of government regarding calls for a targeted state of emergency, as the circumstances that prevailed with, 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. The MD of GWCL reported the turbidity of the water at the Kwanyako Water Treatment Plant to have hit 32,000 NTU … the Central Regional Minister had endorsed the closure of the plant.”

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“The Government’s handling of the galamsey crisis is a disappointment to us all; this government is failing us,” the statement added.

Read the statement below;



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