Council of State member Sam Okudzeto and Professor Stephen Adei have called for stronger measures, including advanced technologies like drones, to tackle the growing problem of illegal mining, known as galamsey, which is devastating Ghana’s rivers and forests.
Their comments come amid rising public concern over the severe pollution affecting key water sources across the country. Speaking on TV3’s Agenda program on October 14, 2024, Okudzeto emphasized the failure of previous efforts to combat illegal mining, despite various interventions since 2013, such as military deployments. He noted that rivers, particularly in the Western Region like the Ankobra, remain heavily polluted.
Okudzeto urged a strategic shift towards modern monitoring tools, saying, “We’ve sent the military before, but what’s been the result? It’s time to embrace technology, using drones and modern surveillance to monitor our forests and water bodies,” suggesting that these technologies could provide more effective oversight and enforcement.
Professor Adei echoed these concerns, describing illegal mining as a nationwide crisis impacting not only the Eastern Region but also areas near major rivers like the Volta. He called the situation a “national emergency” and advocated for stricter actions against those responsible for polluting water sources.