The Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwaa, has raised concerns over the devastating impact of illegal mining (galamsey) on Ghana’s cocoa industry.
Speaking on ABC News GH following the presentation of the 2025 budget in Parliament, she warned that if urgent measures are not taken, Ghana’s cocoa risks being rejected on the international market due to pollution and environmental degradation.
“Our focus is not in the right direction,” she stressed, adding that the loss of cocoa is not only due to smuggling but also the destruction of cocoa farms by illegal miners.
Awula Serwaa expressed disappointment in the government’s failure to prioritize the fight against galamsey in the 2025 budget.
“Now the landscape has become polluted, and very soon, if we don’t take care, our cocoa is going to be rejected, which will affect our economy,” she cautioned.
She likened the situation to “a house on fire” or “the Titanic sinking,” yet found no clear strategies in the budget to tackle the menace.
She criticized the lack of allocation for military intervention in galamsey hotspots and the government’s reluctance to pause small-scale mining. “I didn’t hear anything about resourcing to ensure that there is a military detail, especially around the hotspot,” she lamented.
Eco-Conscious Citizens have long advocated for the repeal of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which permits mining in forest reserves.
Awula Serwaa condemned the continued issuance of permits for mining in ecologically sensitive areas, arguing that the damage outweighs any economic benefits.
She warned that illegal mining has reached a crisis level, posing an existential threat to Ghana’s environment, water resources, and agricultural sector.
“I am just disappointed that I did not hear anything that will encourage us that finally, the war against environmental terrorism is being taken seriously,” she stated, urging the government to take immediate action to protect the country’s natural resources.
