Program Manager for Local and Urban Governance at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Paul Aborampah-Mensah, has raised serious concerns over the worsening illegal mining situation, warning that some red zones are now too dangerous even for security agencies to enter.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey on Starr 103.5 FM on Tuesday, October 7, Mr. Aborampah-Mensah disclosed that the sector minister’s own presentation showed parts of Ghana have become “red zones,” meaning not even state security can protect citizens in those areas.
“It’s not even possible for the security agencies themselves to go and protect us in those zones,” he stated.
He said the delay by the National Security Council in advising the president on declaring a state of emergency is troubling, given the current level of lawlessness and the infiltration of illegal mining sites by unknown armed groups.
“We don’t even know who are infiltrating the sites, are they only Ghanaians? Or some of the people from terrorist-invaded countries also here?” he questioned.
According to him, the illegal mining menace has gone beyond dialogue and education, describing the situation as life-threatening, with the destruction of water bodies, forests, and even community structures like school buildings and railway lines.
“Our waters have been destroyed, our forests are totally destroyed… if we tolerate some of these things, relying on peaceful approaches, by the next three years we’ll have nothing left in the country,” he warned.
Mr. Aborampah-Mensah likened the situation to the Bawku conflict, where relative calm only returned after the deployment of the military. He argued that a similar decisive, security-led intervention is now needed to bring order to galamsey areas.
“Since we deployed the military to Bawku, have you noticed the relaxed atmosphere? That’s how it’s supposed to be. Galamsey has gone beyond what we are thinking of.”
He further lamented that the illegal mining trade has morphed into a community-backed venture, where even local leaders, traditional authorities, and some police officers now benefit from it.
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Mr. Aborampah-Mensah therefore urged a comprehensive and forceful state response, stressing that those aiding or protecting illegal miners must also face the law.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh / Bernice Asuako Prah
