State of Emergency Won’t Halt Galamsey Without Community Involvement – Bryan Acheampong
Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, has warned that declaring a state of emergency to combat illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, will fail unless local communities actively participate in the fight.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition, Acheampong emphasized the urgent need for a national dialogue that involves all sectors of society to address the galamsey crisis comprehensively. He acknowledged the government’s efforts, including deploying security forces, but argued that these measures alone are insufficient.
“If we deploy 34,000 soldiers across the country, they wouldn’t be able to stop galamsey in just the Ashanti Region,” Acheampong explained, emphasizing that a collaborative, community-driven approach is essential to making any real progress.
The Minister pointed out that while military interventions might temporarily halt illegal mining activities, they often resume as soon as the soldiers leave. This, he said, highlights the need for communities to take a leading role in protecting their land and resources from environmental destruction.
Acheampong urged communities to view themselves as the first line of defense against galamsey. “A mindset change is necessary. When communities rise to defend their land and waters, security forces can support them. But if you wait for the central government to send soldiers or police, they won’t stay indefinitely,” he noted.
He also dismissed the notion that stopping galamsey is the sole responsibility of district authorities, particularly District Chief Executives (DCEs). Acheampong clarified that many local governance members are part of the communities affected by illegal mining and should play a proactive role.
“Are we saying that galamsey is happening inside the DCE’s house? No, it’s happening within the communities, and the people need to be part of the solution,” he stressed.
Acheampong called for a national dialogue to clearly define the roles of communities, civil society, security forces, political parties, and the media in tackling the issue. He argued that only with such collective action can Ghana make significant strides in the fight against galamsey.
In a final warning, Acheampong stated that without robust community involvement, the illegal mining crisis will continue to spiral out of control, posing grave threats to the country’s food security, water resources, and environment.
“What good will a state of emergency do if the community doesn’t rise up to stop galamsey?” he questioned, urging Ghanaians to take responsibility for preserving their environments.
Source: myjoyonline.com
