Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has demanded a complete moratorium on all mining activities—legal and illegal—until Ghana addresses the catastrophic environmental damage caused by galamsey, warning that political interference and public inaction have allowed the crisis to spiral into a national threat.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, Akuffo declared:
“Galamsey didn’t become intractable in 2025; it became intractable long ago. We have been playing games around it, and now it has become a political issue. It has grown so many thieves that it is killing and poisoning everybody.”
She urged communities to reject the pollution of rivers, farmlands, and food crops:
“It’s about time Ghanaians woke up and stopped being childish. A gift from God, we have used it to poison ourselves—that is wrong. There should be a moratorium on every form of mining until we sort ourselves out.”
Her call follows the November 1 violent attack on the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) team at Bronikrom near Hwidiem, where a mob assaulted officers, seized equipment, and allegedly involved Asutifi North MP Ebenezer Kwaku Addo in demanding suspects’ release. Police recovered a Smith & Wesson pistol, ammunition, and unregistered vehicles.
Akuffo’s stance adds pressure amid 17 galamsey-related deaths in the first half of 2025 and 60% forest loss, per Minority data. The government has revoked 2,000 licenses but faces criticism over enforcement.
