The Youth in Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (Youth-NREG) Platform has called for an urgent suspension of all mining licenses in Ghana to address the growing menace of illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.
In a statement dated Monday, September 16, the youth group urged the government to “cancel all prospective mining contracts and/or licenses” until a sustainable solution is found.
According to the group, the environmental devastation caused by galamsey has reached alarming levels, with the destruction of forest reserves and water bodies posing a significant threat to the livelihoods and health of future generations.
Youth-NREG’s statement echoed the concerns of numerous stakeholders who have been advocating for a more decisive response to the galamsey crisis.
“Irresponsible mining is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of injustice,” the group emphasized, warning that the damage being done amounts to “ecocide” and violates citizens’ right to a clean environment.
They highlighted the destruction of 34 forest reserves and four major rivers, leading to severe losses in biodiversity and ecosystem services.
In response, Youth-NREG called on the government to hold all individuals and companies accountable for environmental damage, stressing the need for budgetary allocations to assist local authorities in combating illegal mining.
