Without community effort, a state of emergency won't end Galamsey, according to Bryan Acheampong.

According to Bryan Acheampong, a state of emergency won't end Galamsey unless the community takes action. Bryan Acheampong, the minister of food and agriculture, claims that without the active participation of local people, imposing a state of emergency to stop illegal mining, or "galamsey," would be futile.

The Minister emphasized the necessity of a national conversation that involves all facets of society in order to address the situation head-on in an interview on Joy News' PM Express Business Edition.

Acheampong emphasized that although security forces and other government operations have been initiated, the problem is too big for military or law enforcement measures to handle.

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“If we spread 34,000 soldiers across the country, they won’t even be able to stop galamsey in the Ashanti region alone. We need communal effort, not just central government enforcement,” he stated.

The Minister pointed out that although security forces carry out temporary enforcement actions, illegal miners swiftly return once the military depart, which is why a community-led strategy is crucial.

Acheampong emphasized how important community members are to preserving their resources and lands.

He emphasized that people who are most impacted by the environmental destruction caused by Galamsey, such as contaminated waterways and demolished farmlands, must take the initiative.

You need a mindset change by the people in the community. When you fight the people who are destroying your land and polluting your waters, security personnel can back you up. But if you wait for the central government to bring in soldiers or police, they don’t come and stay there, he stated.

The Minister further contended that district officials and political appointees are not the only ones who have a duty to solve galamsey.

He explained that the majority of people in local governance institutions, with the exception of the District Chief Executive (DCE), are members of the community and ought to be instrumental in putting an end to illicit mining operations.

Are you saying the DCE is the only one looking on for all this to happen? Galamsey is happening in communities, not in the DCE’s house, he asserted.

Acheampong says that the battle against galamsey needs to spread from Accra to the impacted communities.

We need a national dialogue on this matter. We need to agree on the role of the community, civil society, security forces, political parties, and the media. Only then can we swing into action.

He ended by issuing a dire warning that the issue will worsen without community participation, endangering Ghana's ecology, water supply, and food security.

“What will a state of emergency do if you don’t have the community rising up to stop galamsey?” he asked, urging Ghanaians to take responsibility for safeguarding their own environments.