Galamsey fight: Bryan Acheampong calls for 90-day halt to all mining activities

A flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bryan Acheampong, has called for a 90-day nationwide suspension of all mining activities to help restore Ghana’s heavily polluted water bodies.

Speaking at his campaign office on Wednesday, October 15, Dr. Acheampong clarified that the proposal was not a call for a state of emergency but a necessary national intervention to protect the environment and safeguard the country’s food and water security.

“Ninety days, I’m not talking about a state of emergency. Let’s pause all mining for three months during the rainy season to clean our rivers and rethink how we mine responsibly,” he said.

He explained that during this period, government agencies, local authorities, and stakeholders should work together to clean polluted rivers, review mining regulations, and design a new framework for sustainable and responsible mining.

Dr. Acheampong warned that Ghana faces severe long-term threats to its food and water supply if urgent action is not taken to stop illegal and harmful mining practices.

“If our food and water systems are being poisoned and we look on because of money, there will soon be no one left to fix the damage,” he cautioned.

The country has long struggled with the destructive effects of illegal mining, which has polluted key water bodies such as the Pra and Ankobra rivers.

Dr. Acheampong’s proposal adds to growing calls for a national rethink of how to balance economic gains from mining with environmental protection.