Fight Galamsey With All Govt Agencies – Zanetor

Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology, has emphasized the need for stronger coordination among government agencies to combat illegal mining, or galamsey. She stressed that the fight against illegal mining is an "all-of-government and all-of-society imperative," and called for close collaboration between various ministries and institutions to ensure effective and meaningful results.

Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings highlighted the critical roles of the Ministries of Lands and Natural Resources, Local Government, and Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs in tackling the issue, as illegal mining activities largely occur within the local governance system. She also identified the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) as a key institution and pledged to work closely with it to obtain a comprehensive briefing on the current situation and ongoing interventions.

The Minister-designate stressed the importance of regular reporting on measures taken against illegal mining to improve transparency and assess the effectiveness of interventions. She stressed that the environmental damage from illegal mining extends beyond the mining areas, affecting natural resources and human health, and called for a coordinated national response involving government institutions and the wider society.

Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings emphasized that closer collaboration among agencies would help eliminate gaps in enforcement and ensure coordinated implementation of interventions. She also indicated that consultation with relevant institutions would be an important initial step in determining the most effective approach to the problem if approved by Parliament.