Tricycle operators and okada riders from New Abirem have urged the government to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.

The operators voiced their concerns over the detrimental effects of galamsey on public health and the environment during a recent community meeting.

"The galamsey situation is no joke; it's causing serious health issues for us and our families," one of the operators stated.

"The contaminated water from galamsey activities is being used to irrigate the food we consume. This is a crisis that cannot be ignored."

Participants at the meeting emphasized that the repercussions of galamsey extend beyond mining communities, warning that urban residents, including those in Accra, are not exempt from its harmful effects.

"We need to unite against galamsey activities. The government has shown reluctance in addressing this issue, and it's high time we stand together as Ghanaians to put an end to it," another operator urged.

The operators expressed their frustration with the government's perceived inaction and called for immediate measures to combat illegal mining.

They argue that without urgent intervention, the health and safety of countless Ghanaians are at risk.

The operators' appeal adds to the growing chorus of voices across the nation advocating for a more robust response to galamsey, which has become a significant challenge for the country's environmental and public health landscape.

Presently, there is mounting pressure on the government to fire all Municipal and District Chief Executives under whose watch the practice of illegal mining is taking place. One of the individuals leading such calls is the Convener of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, Kenneth Ashigbey.

Illegal mining has emerged as a significant challenge in the country, particularly due to its detrimental impact on Ghana’s water bodies.

Despite a series of government interventions ranging from deploying security forces to arresting offenders, the problem of galamsey continues unabated.

Recently, President Akufo-Addo directed the set up of a five-member ad hoc ministerial committee to engage stakeholders to assess the government’s efforts to deal with illegal mining activities.

While the reassessment continues, there are also growing calls for the government to ban small-scale mining and declare a state of emergency to protect water bodies and the country’s vegetation cover.

Government’s representatives in the sector in question have however shot down such calls, citing the economic benefit the country derives from gold production by small-scale miners.

Declare state of emergency on galamsey now - Tricycle operators and okada riders of New Abirem to gov't#UTVNews pic.twitter.com/tC2zKjLpJl— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) October 2, 2024