Ghana Faces Nationwide Lockdown Amid Escalating Illegal Mining Crisis

As Ghana grapples with a severe illegal mining crisis, a nationwide lockdown is imminent. Learn more about the government’s response and the implications for the mining industry and local communities.

Ghana is poised to implement a nationwide lockdown on Monday, September 30, as civil servants and labor unions amplify their efforts against illegal mining, commonly referred to as Galamsey. The environmental damage inflicted by these unregulated activities has sparked increasing calls for immediate government action, including the declaration of a state of emergency in mining regions and the revocation of mining licenses.

Recent findings from the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) underscore the seriousness of the crisis, revealing significant water shortages due to the pollution of vital water sources. The GWCL reports that 60% of the nation’s primary water bodies have been contaminated, with water treatment facilities struggling to cope with turbidity levels that have surged to an average of 14,000 NTU, far surpassing their operational limit of 2,000 NTU.

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Urgent Calls for Action

A coalition comprising civil society organizations, labor unions, media representatives, and religious leaders has heightened its demands for the government to take decisive measures. They are advocating for the declaration of a state of emergency in all impacted regions, the mobilization of security forces to remove illegal miners from water sources, and the prompt cancellation of mining licenses.

Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the Convener of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, emphasized the critical nature of the situation, stating, “In warfare, contaminating the enemy’s water is deemed a war crime. Yet, here we are, poisoning our own water, while our leaders remain inactive. This is a crisis that requires immediate presidential intervention.”

Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalists Association, supported these sentiments, urging the government to deploy military forces to the affected areas and to annul all mining permits in zones designated for biodiversity protection.

Environmental Catastrophe

The impact of illegal mining has wreaked havoc across the nation. Beyond polluting water bodies, it has severely damaged agricultural lands, particularly in cocoa-producing regions, and has resulted in the destruction of at least 34.