Illegal mining, popularly called galamsey, has become one of the most pressing threats to our nation’s future. Beyond the destruction of farmlands and water bodies, it undermines community health, weakens livelihoods, and strips future generations of their right to a safe environment. The time has come for us to rise above partisan interests and take bold, collective action.
A Call for Dialogue
What Ghana urgently needs is a National Dialogue on Galamsey. This dialogue must be politically neutral and inclusive, bringing together traditional leaders, particularly those from the most affected communities, alongside security agencies, environmental experts, civil society, and concerned citizens.
A Binding Commitment
So far, the national response has been scattered and fragmented. Conversations have taken place in silos, and interventions have been reduced to a few ad hoc task forces that fail to address the problem comprehensively. The painful truth is that too many people, including institutions and even some traditional leaders, are compromised or unwilling to align with genuine efforts to end this menace. Their silence, complicity, or outright protection of illegal mining activities has fueled the crisis.
A genuine national dialogue will break through these silos, smoke out double standards, expose those who are part of the problem, and force them to choose between the survival of our nation or the continuation of their private gains. This platform will allow us to confront the menace with honesty and urgency while crafting a binding national pact or convention with a clear roadmap for enforcement.
Institutionalise Progress
To ensure continuity, this must not be a one-off event. It should be institutionalised into an annual gathering where stakeholders return to assess progress, take stock of challenges, and introduce improvements. In this way, the dialogue becomes not just a symbolic gesture but a living framework for accountability and sustainable action.
Lessons from the World
We are not alone in facing such challenges. Countries like Indonesia, for instance, have convened national dialogues to tackle deforestation and illegal logging, resulting in binding commitments that continue to shape policy and community engagement. Ghana can learn from such global examples by embedding dialogue into action and action into measurable results.
The Time is Now
If we fail to act now, the damage will not only cripple local communities but also weaken national development and international credibility. But if we come together, rise above political divides, and commit to a genuine national pact, Ghana can lead Africa in demonstrating how a resource-rich nation protects its environment while safeguarding its people.
The time for excuses is over. The time for compromise is over. The time for a National Pact Against Galamsey is now.
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