Grapevine

Alan Kyerematen outlines bold 10-point plan to end Galamsey

At a landmark press conference at the Ghana International Press Centre, Alan Kyerematen, presidential candidate for the Afrafranto Alliance, together with his running mate, Kwame Owusu Danso (KOD) and other senior partners of Afrafranto Alliance, unveiled a comprehensive 10-point plan aimed at eradicating illegal mining (Galamsey) in Ghana.

This ambitious blueprint, which he presented on Sunday, 29th September 2024, signals a new approach to tackling one of the country’s most pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges.

Mr Kyerematen began his address by acknowledging the devastation that Galamsey has caused across Ghana, describing it as an "existential threat" to the nation. He painted a grim picture of the widespread destruction of water bodies, forest reserves, and farmlands, calling it the result of decades of poor governance and policy failure by both the NPP and NDC governments. "The two dominant political parties have demonstrated that they neither have the competence, desire, nor political will to address Galamsey," Kyerematen stated.

The cornerstone of Alan Kyerematen’s plan is a one-year complete ban on all small-scale and community mining activities, both legal and illegal. This moratorium, he explained, would provide a necessary pause to assess and reset the country’s mining practices. The ban would be coupled with the demobilization of all mining machinery, which would be inventoried and stored by the military's 48 Engineer's Regiment.

Alan Kyerematen's plan also calls for an aggressive restoration campaign. During the one-year ban, efforts will be made to restore Ghana’s degraded river bodies and farmlands. The Water Resources Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and other relevant agencies will oversee this massive environmental clean-up effort.