AROCHA Ghana, alongside other civil society organizations and environmental advocates, has called for decisive action against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, asserting that burning excavators remains the most effective way to curb the escalating environmental crisis.
The statement was made during a press conference held on Friday, March 7, 2025, in Accra, where the group outlined urgent demands to address the rampant illegal mining and regulatory failures plaguing Ghana.
In a joint press release signed by AROCHA Ghana, Kasa Initiative Ghana, Nature and Development Foundation, and Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape, the organizations emphasized that the destruction of excavators used in illegal mining is a critical deterrent. "The debate over whether to burn or not to burn excavators used in illegal mining is complex, given the significant vested interests and influences at play.
However, considering Ghana's weak compliance regime and lived experiences, the burning of excavators remains the most effective deterrent against the impunity of illegal miners destroying forests and rivers nationwide," the statement read.
