Dr. Ashigbey urges govt to treat ‘Galamsey’ as national security threat

The Convenor of the Anti-Galamsey Coalition, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has urged the government to declare a state of emergency in areas most affected by illegal mining, describing the growing problem as a threat that requires immediate and strong action.

Dr. Ashigbey’s call comes after the tragic helicopter crash on August 6, which claimed the lives of eight people who were traveling to an anti-galamsey event in Obuasi. Following the incident, the government announced a renewed crackdown on illegal mining activities across the country.

In an interview sighted by thenewsgod.com on Monday, August 18, Dr. Ashigbey stressed the need to treat galamsey as a national security issue.

“We need to address this as a national security crisis, and it must be confronted head-on. Where the problem is most severe, a state of emergency should be declared,” he said.

He pointed to Dunkwa in the Central Region, particularly the Offin River area, as an example of where such measures could be applied.

Dr. Ashigbey said that declaring a state of emergency would empower law enforcement and the Forestry Commission to take decisive action against illegal miners while restricting access to water bodies to prevent further environmental damage.

Dr. Ashigbey further stressed the significance of enforcing existing laws to protect Ghana’s forest reserves and rivers from the harmful effects of illegal mining.