Accra: Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, the Convener of the Media Coalition against Illegal Mining, has advocated for the imprisonment of foreigners involved in illegal mining activities, known locally as ‘galamsey.’ He emphasized that merely deporting these individuals is insufficient and undermines efforts to combat illegal mining effectively.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Ashigbey made these remarks during an appearance on a private television station. He urged for the identification and arrest of key players, particularly the financiers behind these operations. Additionally, he called for a state of emergency in regions affected by illegal mining to enhance governmental efforts to address the issue.
Dr Ashigbey also criticized the Legislative Instrument (L.I. 2462) that allows mining in forest reserves, opposing the government’s plans to review it. He argued for its complete repeal to bolster the fight against illegal mining.
Mr Daryl Bosu, Deputy Director of A-Rocha Ghana, echoed these sentiments, advocating for a comprehensive reform of the mining licensing system. He attributed the current challenges to the existing licensing regime and suggested removing the head of the Minerals Commission to facilitate a ‘cleansing exercise.’ Bosu questioned the procedural integrity of licenses issued post-December 7, suggesting oversight failures.
Private Legal Practitioner Mr Martin Kpebu recommended the reshuffling of police command heads in illegal mining zones to dismantle established relationships between miners and local commanders, thus reinvigorating commitment to combating the practice.
Mr Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, Acting CEO of the National Petroleum Authority, highlighted the economic incentives driving illegal mining. He proposed creating alternative livelihoods for those engaged in the activity to effectively address the problem.