By: Maltiti Sayida Sadick
Efua Ghartey, the President-elect and first female in her position at the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), has added her voice to the fight against illegal small scale mining, commonly known as galamsey, calling for stronger law enforcement and community involvement to combat the menace.
In a recent statement, Ghartey emphasised the critical role of law enforcement agencies in curtailing illegal mining activities, urging them to be more proactive.
“The law enforcement agencies must be up and doing to curtail this menace,” she said, expressing concern about the environmental destruction caused by galamsey. She noted that addressing the issue requires a collaborative effort, not just from government institutions but from the public as well.
Ghartey, speaking on GTV Breakfast show, called on all Ghanaians to take responsibility for reporting illegal mining activities, stressing that citizen engagement is crucial in fighting galamsey. “We must all take up the charge and report anything we see that is wrong and illegal,” she urged.
The GBA President-elect highlighted the need for a holistic approach to solving the galamsey problem, calling for the involvement of traditional leaders and government officials in the fight. According to her, lasting solutions can only be achieved if all sectors of society work together, including chiefs and opinion leaders at the community level.
Ghartey’s remarks come at a time when illegal mining continues to wreak havoc on Ghana’s environment, particularly in rural communities where rivers and farmlands have been devastated by illegal mining.
