The Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awulah Serwah, has criticized government for failing to move beyond promises in the fight against illegal mining, saying the country’s anti-galamsey efforts remain trapped in rhetoric instead of real action.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on October 6, Awulah Serwah said despite several assurances, little progress has been made in curbing the destruction caused by illegal mining.
Her remarks followed a meeting between President John Mahama and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at the Jubilee House, where the President urged stakeholders to intensify advocacy and hold government accountable in the campaign against galamsey.
However, Awulah Serwah argued that after nine months of pledges, there is still no evidence of tangible change.
“Even simple measures like providing a hotline for citizens to report excavators or changfans operating on our water bodies have not materialized,” she said.
She recalled that the government had promised to establish a call centre to track illegal mining activities but noted that “it seems to us that that’s taken a little too long.”
According to her, many of the proposed actions are basic and could have been implemented swiftly.
“There are some things that people would have seen as low-hanging fruit—such as repealing LI 2462 or introducing a single number people can call to say, ‘The excavators are moving, please act,’” she explained.
Serwah also lamented the absence of accountability mechanisms for local authorities.
“We would have liked an indication of what happens to MCEs, DCEs, and police officers when galamsey takes place under their watch. What systems are in place to ensure they act?” she questioned.
She cited Jema, a town free from illegal mining, as an example of community success worth replicating.
“We really need to applaud them. There’s no illegal mining there because they have a very good chief, and the community, together with Father Blay, has worked hard to prevent it,” she said, adding that government could learn from such models.
“It would have been helpful if the President had highlighted why Jema is succeeding so others could follow suit—but there was no opportunity for that,” she added.
While acknowledging the President’s mention of plans to establish special courts to fast-track galamsey cases, she said once again, no timelines were provided.
“Yes, special courts are going to be set up, but we really haven’t got any timeline. So there are a lot of promises about what will be done—but as to when, we’re still waiting,” she said.
For Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awulah Serwah stressed, Ghana urgently needs less talk and more action to protect its rivers, forests, and communities from the devastation of galamsey.
