Accra, Ghana – Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has issued a strong public call to the government to impose an immediate moratorium on all forms of mining in Ghana, citing the devastating and long-term destruction caused by illegal mining, commonly known as ‘galamsey’, to the country’s environment and water bodies.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday, November 5, Justice Akuffo argued that the crisis has become entrenched due to years of political negligence and public apathy.
Justice Sophia Akuffo insisted that the issue transcends recent developments, stating, “Galamsey didn’t become intractable in 2025; it became intractable long ago. And we have been playing games around it, dancing around it, and now it has become a political issue.” She emphasized the grave threat the menace poses to the nation’s health and future, adding, “It has grown so many thieves that it is killing and poisoning everybody.”
To address this existential threat, she proposed a radical but necessary measure: “I believe there should be a moratorium on every form of mining, whether legal or illegal, small-scale or galamsey, until we sort ourselves out. This quest to mine our resources has gone out of hand. Let’s call for a pause.”
Her powerful commentary comes just days after a violent attack on the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) team at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region on Saturday, November 1, 2025. The NAIMOS team was assaulted by a mob after intercepting illegal miners operating near Bronikrom, during which they arrested several suspects and retrieved weapons, ammunition, and unregistered vehicles.
The ensuing police report added that the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, allegedly arrived at the scene with a group and demanded the release of the arrested individuals, highlighting the political interference Justice Akuffo spoke of.
Justice Akuffo directed a further appeal to the public, urging communities directly affected by the pollution of rivers, farmlands, and food crops to actively oppose the irresponsible exploitation of natural resources. “It’s about time Ghanaians woke up and stopped being childish. We cannot continue to pollute our waters and our lands. A gift from God, we have used it to poison ourselves — that is wrong,” she urged.
Her demand for a complete halt to all mining activities adds significant weight to the growing public pressure for the government to take unified, decisive, and depoliticized action to protect Ghana’s water security and ecosystem.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
