Galamsey We Demand An Immediate Cessation Of All ASM Activities Otherwise MASDA To Govt

Mass Action for Sustainable Development in Africa (MASDA), a civil society organisation, has expressed worry about the mass destruction of water bodies and reserved forests by illegal miners. 

According to the group, government must intervene to prevent further destruction by galamsey operators with immediate effect by placing a ban on all anti-small mining (ASM) activities to allow for a more sustainable solution to the problem.

MASDA warns that failure on the part of government to heed to its call, will result in a massive nationwide demonstration next week Monday.

". . . . if government fails to suspend their activities by 16th September 2024, we shall mobilise the mass of Ghanaians to demand that on the streets," the group stated in a press release issued on Wednesday, September 11.

The statement signed by its Executive Director; Atik Mohammed said the situation needs an “urgent action to save lives and the environment.” 

Further to this, the group proposed some interventions it believes can help stem the tide of the galamsey menace.

"Given the present state of the “galamsey” crisis, government must take certain urgent actions. To that end, we propose the following:

bull; Government must cause an immediate cessation of all ASM activities in the country.
bull; We further propose a multi-stakeholder conference on “galamsey” with specific objects as soon as possible.
bull; We suggest a thorough review of the entire mining sub-sector including the exploitation and management of crucial minerals.
bull; We also propose the setting up by the Chief Justice, of specialised courts to handle environmental and mining offences."


Attached is the full statement.