Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have voiced profound disappointment and frustration regarding the government's efforts to combat illegal mining, locally known as galamsey. Following a meeting with President John Mahama, key CSO representatives, including Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey and Awulah Serwah of Eco-Conscious Citizens, expressed their dissatisfaction over the lack of clear timelines and tangible actions on the government's promises.

Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, also the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, highlighted that CSOs departed from the October 3 meeting at the Jubilee House without clear milestones or deadlines for the government’s plans to tackle illegal mining. Despite President Mahama discussing potential triggers for a state of emergency, the format of the discussion reportedly did not allow for specific questions or the attachment of clear timelines to proposed interventions. Dr. Ashigbey noted that while the Lands Minister's presentation included some timelines in its concluding slide, the majority of issues lacked such specificity, and even the President's responses omitted crucial details regarding implementation schedules.

Echoing these concerns, Awulah Serwah, Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, asserted that the fight against galamsey remains mired in unfulfilled promises rather than decisive action. She stated that after nine months of government assurances, there has been little visible progress on the ground. Ms. Serwah specifically pointed out the significant delay in establishing a functional hotline or call centre for citizens to report illegal mining activities, such as the movement of excavators or 'changfans' on water bodies, despite initial announcements. She categorized this and the repeal of Legislative Instrument 2462 as 'low-hanging fruit' that should have been addressed swiftly.

Both Dr. Ashigbey and Ms. Serwah also raised critical questions about accountability for local authorities and traditional leaders. They lamented the absence of clear indications from the government regarding measures to hold Metropolitan/Municipal/District Chief Executives (MCEs/DCEs) and the police responsible when illegal mining persists under their watch. This lack of accountability mechanisms was a significant point of concern for the CSOs.

In contrast to the government's perceived inaction, Awulah Serwah cited the town of Jema as a successful example of community-led galamsey prevention. She applauded Jema for remaining free of illegal mining due to strong community leadership, including a proactive chief and collaborative efforts involving individuals like Father Blay. Ms. Serwah expressed regret that the President did not leverage the meeting as an opportunity to share such community success stories, which could serve as models for others. While the President spoke of plans to establish special courts to expedite galamsey cases, CSOs again noted the absence of concrete timelines for their implementation.

The overwhelming sentiment from Civil Society Organisations is a demand for a shift from rhetoric to concrete action, with clear timelines and robust accountability frameworks, to effectively safeguard Ghana's rivers, forests, and communities from the devastating impact of illegal mining.