Ghana Faces Mounting Pressure to Take Action Over Illegal Mining

Pressure is mounting on Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency as environmental degradation caused by illegal mining reaches critical levels.

Vast stretches of the country’s forest reserves have been stripped bare and water bodies have been contaminated. Activists are warning that without immediate, decisive action the damage could become irreversible.

Illegal mining – locally known as galamsey – is also threatening livelihoods and fuelling political and social…