The Executive Director of Eco-Conscious, Awulah Serwaa, has called on the government to prosecute all individuals named in Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng’s report on illegal mining.
The 36-page document, authored by the former chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), outlines the root causes of “galamsey” and proposes solutions to end the menace.
Serwaa stressed the urgency of holding all those involved accountable, saying, “It sends a strong message that it does not matter who is involved in illegal mining, they will be held accountable.”
Serwaa further emphasized the need for a dedicated task force with direct community engagement, where the public can report illegal mining activities promptly. She believes this initiative would significantly bolster efforts to curb the return of miners.
“We need to have a task force whose number is known to communities. This way, people can alert the task force whenever illegal miners resume their activities, so they can immediately respond and make arrests,” she explained.
As pressure mounts on the government to take decisive action, Serwaa highlighted the importance of going beyond arresting miners and ensuring that leaders and owners of illegal mining operations are also brought to justice.
Her call follows a wave of civil society protests and strikes, with labour groups pushing for the repeal of laws like L.I. 2462 and the signing of a national pact by presidential candidates to depoliticize the fight against illegal mining.
