20 Million Ghanaians Risk Losing Clean Water Due to Illegal Mining
- Over 20 million Ghanaians are said to be at risk of losing access to clean water due to galamsey pollution
- GCAG warns of a 280% increase in water tariffs as illegal mining cripples resources
- The Coalition demanded prosecutions, enactment of policies to effect accountability measures to stop galamsey and that the government declare a state of emergency
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The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) has issued a warning on the devastating impact of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, on Ghana’s future.
According to the coalition, a staggering 20 million Ghanaians are at risk of losing access to clean water due to the galamsey menace.
Source: Facebook
"Prolonged tolerance of illegal and irresponsible mining has led to severe environmental damage, including the pollution and destruction of water bodies used by over 20 million people," the GCAG said.
Due to the pollution of water bodies, the coalition said water tariffs could rise by 280 per cent, imposing a serious economic hardship on ordinary citizens
"The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) is considering a request from Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) for a staggering 280% increase in water tariffs, directly due to the pollution caused by illegal and irresponsible mining," they added
Aside from this, the coalition also warned that productive farmlands for crops like cocoa, rubber, and oil palm are being lost, as farmers report a lack of available land
The GCAG further added that around 50 forest reserves have been affected, increasing future environmental and climate risks. This will have damaging long-term consequences for our society
The GCAG raised this alarm during a media briefing held on Monday, September 15, 2025, at the Ghana International Press Centre.
The GCAG again reiterated its disappointment with the recent statements of President John Mahama during his maiden Meet the Press encounter at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
During his first media encounter, journalists asked the president whether he would declare a state of emergency in response to the environmental destruction caused by galamsey.
However, the president stated he would only do so when it becomes necessary, explaining that he has not exhausted all legal measures and that declaring a state of emergency would be a last resort.
Reacting to the president's statement, GCAG said the government's failure to see the urgency and crisis we face from illegal and irresponsible mining is deeply distressing and disappointing.
"The president's narratives, and de facto justifications, on such a platform will only serve to give oxygen to impunity, rolling back years of governmental messaging to make galamsey unpopular. This is deeply unfortunate and regrettable," the group said
Read the GCAG's full statement below:
Anti-galamsey coalition tables demands
The coalition further tabled some demands to curb the illegal mining menace and save Ghana's natural reserves and resources.
The demands made by the GCAG are listed below:
- Declare a State of Emergency in galamsey-endemic areas
- Sack and prosecute complicit officials
- Resource the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the police for real enforcement
- Prosecute galamsey kingpins
- Publish water safety and accountability reports
Source: Facebook
Mahama's commitment to fighting galamsey questioned
In a related development, YEN.com.gh reported that Manasseh Azure Awuni criticised President Mahama’s commitment to ending galamsey in Ghana
He said the president had not shown strong leadership or seriousness in tackling the menace.
The investigative journalist disputed Mahama’s claim that galamsey got worse under Akufo-Addo.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
