The Youth in Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (Youth-NREG) platform has issued a strong call for the Ghanaian government to take immediate action against illegal and irresponsible mining, particularly the destruction of forest reserves and water bodies.

In a press statement dated September 16, 2024, the group emphasized that 34 forest reserves and 4 major rivers have been severely affected, leading to loss of biodiversity and livelihoods.

Youth-NREG outlined several demands, including an immediate halt to all illegal mining activities, a temporary suspension of legal mining for a comprehensive review of policies, and the cancellation of prospective mining contracts.

Additionally, the platform urged the government to surcharge individuals and companies responsible for environmental damage and repeal LI2462, a legislative instrument the group finds destructive.

"Irresponsible mining is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of injustice," stated Justina Amoah, Focal Point for Youth-NREG, urging the government to hold perpetrators accountable and present alternative livelihood plans for those involved in illegal mining.

The group also called for collaboration between the government, civil society, media, and traditional leaders to enforce stricter monitoring and ensure the restoration of affected ecosystems. Youth-NREG remains committed to working with all stakeholders to protect Ghana’s environment for future generations.

"Our survival as humans depends on how well we manage the environment," the statement concluded.

Read full statement below:

The Youth in Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (Youth-NREG) Platform, which is made up of young climate and environmental advocates in Ghana is deeply concern about the rampant irresponsible and illegal mining activities (galamsey) that continue to devastate Ghana’s forest reserves, agricultural lands, and water bodies. Some 34 forest reserves and 4 major rivers have so far been severely damaged by such activities, leading to the loss of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and livelihoods.

This ongoing destruction threatens the very survival of citizens and amounts to Ecocide, a crime against our environment and future.

We acknowledge the calls from various stakeholders, including religious leaders, civil society organizations, the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, and environmental advocates, for decisive action against these activities. The Government of Ghana on the other hands has the ultimate responsibility in enforcing existing laws, holding accountable those responsible for this environmental destruction, and ensuring the restoration of the ecosystems that have been devastated.

In the light of this, the Youth-NREG Platform calls on the Government of Ghana to take the following actions:

1. Stop all forms of illegal mining activities with immediate effect.
2. Suspend temporarily all legal mining activities to comprehensively review and enforce existing policies and regulations.
3. Cancel all prospective mining contracts and/or licenses.
4. Ensure that all companies and individuals involved in or found guilty of irresponsible mining and the destruction of forest reserves or water bodies are surcharged and are made to bear the cost of restoring the damaged ecosystems.
5. Clearly make budgetary allocations from the national budget to support the District or Municipal Assemblies in fighting galamsey or irresponsible mining.
6. With immediate effect repeal LI2462 which we find very destructive to our environment and future.  
7.  Collaborate closely with community leaders, media and civil society organizations to improve surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement across the country’s forest reserves and rivers.
8. Present a blueprint of pragmatic livelihood alternatives for young people involved in irresponsible or illegal mining activities. 

The time for action is now. Irresponsible mining is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of injustice and against the right to clean environment and good health of present and future generations. We therefore urge the Government of Ghana to lead the charge in holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring that the damages caused to our natural resources are reversed especially when Ghana has signed onto international protocols and conventions that enjoins us to promote and ensure environmental protection.

We at Youth-NREG remain resolute and unswerving to working with government, civil society, media, religious bodies, traditional leaders and other stakeholders to protect Ghana’s environment and promote sustainable development for future generations.

We call on all Ghanaian youth to support and actively contribute to interventions that will lead to the restoration and protection of our ecosystem. Let us remember that our survival as humans depends on how well we manage the environment!