The Convenor of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has issued a dire warning regarding the ongoing illegal mining (galamsey) activities in Ghana, cautioning that the country could face an imminent water crisis if immediate measures are not taken to curb the menace.

Speaking at a forum on September 11, Dr. Ashigbey drew attention to the severe drought currently affecting eight regions in Ghana, which he believes further underscores the urgency to address the illegal mining crisis.

“You see what God has done, there is a drought now as well. If we don’t act now, we will start licking clay as water,” he remarked, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

His comments come amid growing concerns over the degradation of water bodies due to galamsey. The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has also raised alarms over the excessive water losses experienced during the treatment process.

Dr. Clifford Braimah, the Managing Director of GWCL, revealed that while ideal water loss at treatment plants should hover around 5%, current losses range between 35% and 50%, which he described as “very harmful to our health.”

Dr. Ashigbey called for a state of emergency to be declared for water bodies affected by galamsey and urged the government to invoke Article 31 of the Constitution.

“The president should act now. He has the power to go into the Constitution in Article 31 and declare that state of emergency,” he urged, stressing the need for swift executive intervention.

Dr. Ashigbey also took aim at Ghana’s political leaders, criticizing the Speaker of Parliament for simply lamenting the issue without taking concrete action. He challenged the Speaker to name Members of Parliament involved in galamsey operations, asserting that mere complaints would not solve the crisis.

The Media Coalition Against Galamsey, which has long been vocal about the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, has further vowed to step up its efforts if no decisive action is taken.

Dr. Ashigbey warned that the Coalition would consider a media blackout on environmental issues concerning the Lands Ministry as a form of protest if the government fails to act.

“If we don’t take urgent action, clay may indeed become our only option for quenching thirst,” he cautioned, underscoring the pressing need to end the destruction of Ghana’s water resources due to galamsey.