Gov't has made significant gains in galamsey fight - RCOMSDEP Coordinator

Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia, National Coordinator of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (RCOMSDEP), stated on Saturday, April 25, on JoyNews' Newsfile programme that "the government has done so much and significant gains have been made" in the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. She acknowledged that the challenge persists.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, warned at the Church's 48th General Conference that illegal mining is increasingly disrupting both community livelihoods and church activities in affected areas. He noted that environmental degradation is interfering with religious practices, stating that "the extensive pollution of water bodies due to illegal mining has hampered traditional water baptism in some mining communities, necessitating a shift to synthetic rubber pools in several districts to carry out the ordinance." He further cautioned that the destruction of farmlands and water bodies is also weakening local economies.

Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia emphasized that the focus must now shift towards consolidating the gains made and sustaining interventions aimed at curbing illegal mining activities nationwide.