ost Rev. Mathew Kwasi Gyamfi, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishop Conference, has urged all Ghanaians to fully support the government’s newly established five-member ministerial committee tasked with addressing the escalating galamsey crisis.
In a statement on ABC News GH on Monday, September 16, 2024, Gyamfi emphasized, “All Ghanaians should support the outcome of this body that has been set up.”
He also encouraged voters to critically evaluate their leaders’ stances on galamsey ahead of the upcoming December 7th general elections.
The committee, led by National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah and including Natural Resources Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor, Defense Minister Dominic Nitiwul, Employment Minister Ignatius Baffour Awuah, and Information Minister Fatima Abubakar, will review current strategies and policies aimed at halting illegal mining activities.
The group will also assess the challenges faced by law enforcement and local authorities and propose reforms to enhance the government’s efforts.
This initiative marks a renewed effort by the government to tackle illegal mining, following the controversial end of the previous inter-ministerial task force led by former Environment and Science Minister Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng.
The rising public concern over environmental damage, including the contamination of rivers and destruction of forest reserves, has intensified the call for effective solutions to prevent a looming water crisis and health hazards.
