Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, Convenor of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, has issued a stern warning to the government to take immediate action to end illegal mining in Ghana.
He emphasized the impending water crisis if the situation persists, citing the ongoing drought in eight regions of the country as a stark reminder of the urgency.
Speaking at a forum, Dr. Ashigbey highlighted the high volumes of water loss during the treatment process by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), which far exceed acceptable limits.
He emphasized that the ideal water loss should be around 5%, but currently, losses range between 35% and 50%, posing a significant health risk.
To address the crisis, Dr. Ashigbey called for the declaration of a state of emergency for water bodies affected by galamsey.
He urged the President to invoke Article 31 of the Constitution to take decisive action.
Furthermore, Dr. Ashigbey criticized the Speaker of Parliament for merely lamenting the issue and demanded that MPs involved in illegal mining activities be named.
He warned that the Coalition would initiate a media blackout of environmental issues concerning the Lands Ministry if no concrete steps are taken.
