Today, Friday, October 3, President John Dramani Mahama is scheduled to conduct a high-level meeting with key stakeholders and civil society organizations (CSOs) to talk about long-term solutions to the destruction brought about by illegal mining, or galamsey.
Influential organizations including the Ghana Muslim Mission, Arocha Ghana, IMANI Ghana, the Office of the Chief Imam, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ghana will all be present at the engagement.
It is anticipated that the gathering would give interested parties a forum to exchange ideas and suggest tactics to support current government initiatives to stop the threat.
Dr. Sammy Ayeh, the presidential aide, stressed that the administration views the fight against galamsey as a collective duty.
“The purpose of the meeting is for the government to receive feedback, strategies, and suggestions from these organisations and institutions to complement the efforts already in place to end galamsey. It is instructive to note that since the inception of this government, significant milestones have been chalked up.
From operational to legislative measures, we have seen steps put in place to repeal LI 2462, which had become a bone of contention,” he explained.
He went on to say that although the government has stepped up its legislative and operational changes, greater cooperation with civil society and faith-based organizations is still essential to defeating illegal mining.
Reactions to the choice to involve CSOs have been conflicting. The program has been hailed as a positive start by some, but others contend it runs the risk of being more talk than action.
The effort was characterized as “a step in the right direction” by Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, the Dormaahene.
However, Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, expressed skepticism, criticizing what he sees as the government’s over-reliance on dialogue.