Presidential candidate hopeful for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has called on the government to immediately halt all mining activities in the country for 90 days to address illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
Speaking at the conclusion of his campaign tour in the Accra on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Dr. Acheampong said the nation’s water bodies and food systems were under serious threat due to unregulated mining, warning that the situation poses a “major national security challenge.”
He explained that the temporary suspension would give the country room to “clear our water bodies, restructure the sector, and return to responsible mining.”
“But the security of the state at the moment, if you go to Ashanti region, water is being rationed. I’m sure you are aware, you have to buy bread before they sell you a bottle of water. And this is Ghana. And we know that the cause of this challenge is unemployment, it is a major security challenge for us,” he said.
Citing recent warnings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about contaminated food systems, Dr. Acheampong cautioned that Ghana faces an existential threat if illegal mining continues unchecked.
“There’s no security threat bigger than that challenge,” he stressed. “if something is not being done about it in about three years, we will have a challenge that the people who are supposed to be resolving in themselves will be in the hospital.”
He therefore called on President John Mahama to take decisive action by enforcing a nationwide stop to all mining operations, regardless of the economic implications.
“Galamsey- halt it for 90 days, stop it. Everybody should stop mining in this country. Regardless of the financial consequences, we have to agree that for the next 90 days, I’m not talking about even a state of emergency, 90 days, rainy season, let’s clear our water bodies. Let’s regroup. Let’s rethink and see how we can launch back into responsible mining,” he declared.
Dr. Acheampong emphasized that his call was not for a state of emergency but a strategic pause to enable government and stakeholders to realign the nation’s mining practices toward sustainability and environmental safety.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
