A legal practitioner has called for the introduction of an Act of Parliament that would allow security forces to use lethal force against individuals involved in illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
The lawyer, Kwame Boafo Akuffo Esq, argues that illegal mining has escalated into a serious national security and environmental crisis that requires stronger and more decisive legal action.
Speaking on a media discussion platform, he said illegal mining has reached a level where ordinary enforcement measures are no longer effective, stressing the need for drastic intervention.
He argued that illegal miners should be treated as a direct threat to national survival due to the destruction of water bodies and farmlands, and that the law should be strengthened to reflect that reality.
He also suggested that security agencies should be empowered with more aggressive enforcement tools, including surveillance systems such as drones, to monitor and respond quickly to illegal mining activities.
According to him, Parliament should consider a legal framework that allows security forces to use lethal force against illegal miners who resist arrest or continue operations despite warnings, describing the current situation as an emergency requiring exceptional measures.
He further maintained that existing enforcement efforts have not been sufficient to stop illegal mining, which continues to damage the environment and threaten livelihoods in affected communities.
