Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, Convener of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG), has strongly criticised the recent Enchi court ruling, calling for the removal of the magistrate involved due to alleged incompetence and misconduct.
The ruling, which has drawn widespread attention, has reignited debates over Ghana's approach to combating illegal mining, known locally as "galamsey." The ruling by the Enchi District Court granted bail to individuals arrested for mining in Boin Forest Reserve and also directed the Forestry Commission to release confiscated machines including two excavators to the culprits.
In a statement sighted by Channel One News on Tuesday April 1, Dr Ashigbey urged Ghanaians to hold lawmakers, the judiciary, and the President accountable, emphasising that "silence is complicity." He called for the exposure of all enablers of the galamsey crisis, from courtrooms to mining pits, and stressed the importance of disciplinary action against the magistrate. "This magistrate ought to be cited for discipline-removal from office for misconduct or incompetence, which are grounds for removal of judges," he stated.
Dr Ashigbey also referenced former President Akufo Addo's amendment, Act 995, which increased penalties for galamsey offenses and limited judicial discretion.
