President Mahama should walk the talk – Awulah Serwah

The Executive Director of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awulah Serwah, is calling on President John Dramani Mahama to follow through on his commitments to tackle the menace of illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.

Speaking during an interview on ABC this morning, Serwah acknowledged the government’s prior efforts but stressed that these have not gone far enough to curb what she described as an “existential threat” to Ghana’s environment and livelihoods.

“There is no monitoring enforcement,” Serwah lamented, highlighting the critical gap between policy pronouncements and actual implementation on the ground. “So we are appealing to the President to do what he said he will do. Do it so people will begin to have more confidence in you.”

While recognizing some positive moves by the government, Serwah expressed frustration with the pace and depth of reform. “Yes, some very good steps have been taken,” she said, “but pause small-scale mining. By all means, repeal LI 2462. And then you may need to set up a special corps to be able to deal with the numbers of people who will be prosecuted.”

Serwah’s comments reflect growing dissatisfaction among civil society organisations over what they perceive as limited and piecemeal actions in dealing with galamsey, which continues to degrade forests, pollute water bodies, and destroy farmlands across the country.

She stressed that political will, not just technical strategies or committees, will be the true determinant of whether Ghana can reverse the environmental damage caused by illegal mining.

Without urgent and robust intervention, Serwah warned, the ongoing crisis threatens not just the ecosystem but the livelihoods of thousands of Ghanaians who rely on clean water, fertile land, and sustainable environmental practices.