Kumasi: The National Security Secretariat is adopting a multi-agency, coordinated strategy to more effectively combat illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. This move marks a significant shift from the previous focus solely on law enforcement.
According to Ghana News Agency, Commissioner of Police (COP) Abdul-Razak Osman, the National Security Coordinator, articulated this strategic shift during an address to the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi. He highlighted that past efforts, which primarily relied on arrests and prosecutions, have achieved limited success.
COP Osman emphasized the need for a comprehensive and community-inclusive approach to tackle galamsey, underscoring the critical involvement of traditional leadership, civil society, and state institutions in this renewed initiative. He pointed out that illegal mining has escalated into a national security threat, causing environmental degradation and posing a risk of social unrest.
COP Osman warned, "When communities can no longer drink from their rivers, when fertile lands are rendered barren, and when young people see no future beyond the mining pits, we are facing more than an environmental crisis-it's a recipe for lawlessness, economic despair, and social disorder."
To enhance coordination of the national response, the government has established the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operation Secretariat. This body is responsible for harmonizing efforts across various institutions and sectors. COP Osman urged the chiefs to support the Secretariat's mission and mobilize their communities to oppose and resist illegal mining activities.
He reiterated the importance of the Minerals and Mining Act, which criminalizes illegal mining, and called for a united front to dismantle the entrenched networks that sustain such activities. The meeting with the National House of Chiefs was part of a broader national consultation effort aimed at forging consensus and strengthening partnerships in the ongoing campaign to protect Ghana's environment and developmental potential.
