UTAG Demands End To Galamsey In 3-Month

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has issued a stern call to the government and relevant stakeholders to bring an end to illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey”, within the next three months, citing the devastating impact of the menace on the country’s environment, water bodies, and future generations.

In addition, the Teachers Association has threatened a nationwide strike if government fails to address the menace.

UTAG’s National President, Prof Mamudu Akudugu in a statement on Monday, July 21, expressed deep concern over the alarming rate at which forests are being destroyed and rivers polluted due to unregulated mining activities.

According to the association, the continued failure to clamp down on galamsey operations threatens not only the environment but the very survival of local communities that depend on natural resources.

“We give ourselves three months and see how government reacts to our demands. If we don’t see any tangible action being taken in response, I’m sure we will go back to our members, and they will decide what the next line of action is.

“We cannot sit aloof while rivers are destroyed, forests are cleared, and future generations are left with nothing but poisoned lands and polluted waters” he indicated.

The association believes that the time for rhetoric is over and that only practical, enforceable measures can stop the damage.

He added that the academic community, with its wealth of knowledge and research, stands ready to support government in developing sustainable alternatives to small-scale mining.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to ending illegal mining, stating that strong political will is driving the fight.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series press briefing, Dr Boamah highlighted the key role the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) are playing in the nationwide anti-galamsey campaign.

“We are not out of the woods yet as a nation, but there is hope because there is political will at the very top. The Ghana Armed Forces have played significant roles in the fight against illegal mining” he said.

“This Secretariat is a product of that review exercise. It ensures we are not only reactive, but also proactive and structured in our operations. The recovery of several forest reserves, which our forest guards could not even venture into, was led by the Ghana Armed Forces”.

Dr Boamah also cited the role of the Ghana Navy in Operation Halt II, a joint operation aimed at halting illegal mining activities along the River Ankobra in the Western and Western North Regions.

“In Operation Halt II, the Navy supported land forces to combat illegal mining along the River Ankobra, which had suffered from years of pollution due to mining,” he explained.

Dr Boamah reiterated the government’s unwavering stance on protecting the environment, declaring that the fight against galamsey remains a national security and development priority.

“Our stance is unwavering. We see this as a critical issue for sustainable development and for safeguarding our natural resources for future generations,” he concluded.