Spokesperson for the Movement for Change, Andrew Appiah DanquahThe Spokesperson for the Movement for Change, Andrew Appiah Danquah, has called for a temporary ban on all small-scale mining activities in the country.
According to him, this would allow the environment to recover from the destruction caused by illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.
Speaking on Accra-bassd TV3’s New Day show on Monday, June 30, Mr. Danquah said the country must take radical steps, including a one- or two-year moratorium on small-scale mining, to save the nation’s forests and water bodies.
“It is important that beyond the declaration of a state of emergency, small-scale mining should be banned temporarily — for one or two years — to give nature a chance to heal, especially the river bodies and forests,” he said.
He stressed the need for a comprehensive review of the entire small-scale mining sector, including the licensing regime and the institutions responsible for regulation.
“There must be a radical review of the whole system — people’s licenses, the institutions overseeing the sector — everything must be reorganized. There should be a moratorium,” he stated.
Citing section 87 of the Minerals and Mining Act, Mr. Danquah argued that the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has the legal authority to revoke mining licenses if they pose a threat to national security.
“If you read section 87 of our Minerals and Mining Act, the minister can revoke licenses where their operations threaten national security. And I don’t think anyone can deny that galamsey is one of the biggest national security threats we face today,” he explained.
Mr. Danquah acknowledged that some licensed small-scale miners operate legally, but said many use their licenses to engage in illegal activities.
He believes halting operations across the board would allow for proper sanitization of the sector.
“We must pause, hold on, and allow the land to heal. This is not about being in government or opposition; it’s about national survival,” he said.
