The Coalition Against illegal Mining has renewed its demand for the government to declare a state of emergency in areas affected by galamsey across the country.

According to the group, illegal mining has become a grave threat to livelihoods, public health, and national security, requiring urgent intervention.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Monday, September 15, the Convenor of the Coalition, Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, urged the government to act decisively.

“We are, therefore, making the following demands of the government in response to the president’s statement on deploying a state of emergency as a last resort. One, by Article 31 9A and B, the circumstances under which a state of emergency may be declared include the current galamsey situation in which the actions being taken by the environmental criminals are calculated to deprive large communities of potable water, which is an essential of life,” he said.

The coalition also cited Ghana Water Limited’s recent push for higher tariffs as evidence of the rising cost of water treatment caused by galamsey pollution. It called on the utility provider to regularly publish water turbidity levels nationwide so citizens can know whether treated water meets World Health Organisation standards.

In addition, the group pressed government to prosecute officials complicit in illegal mining, stressing that merely blaming previous administrations is not enough.