Press release from Youth Commission of NDC on fight against galamsey
The Pro-Forum National Youth Commission issues this strong and urgent call to action on the menace of galamsey (illegal mining) which continues to destroy our lands, pollute our water bodies, and threaten the survival of our future generations.
His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has already demonstrated bold leadership in this fight. Even in the wake of painful national tragedies, including the loss of ministers and other personalities in the recent plane crash, the President has risen with renewed determination. Like a wounded lion, he has declared unequivocally that he will personally lead the war against this destructive practice. He has assured the nation that anyone found culpable will face the full force of the laws of Ghana—without fear or favor.
This fight is not just the government’s responsibility; it is a national call. Galamsey is a deadly menace. It destroys our farms, undermines food security, and contaminates the very source of life—our rivers and forests. We are all at risk and cannot sit idle while a few individuals rob the nation of its future for selfish gains.
As the old adage goes, a hungry man will not be satisfied by eating with both hands. In the same way, unemployment or hardship cannot justify illegal activities. Taking up arms, robbing innocent people, or destroying the environment for selfish profit is not work—it is a crime against the nation.
The time has come for every Ghanaian—farmers, chiefs, opinion leaders, security agencies, the media, youth groups, and civil society—to rise together in unity and patriotism. We have only one Ghana. We have nowhere else to go. If we allow galamsey to continue, we are complicit in our own destruction. Galamsey must die now. We either kill galamsey, or galamsey will kill us all.
The Pro Forum National Youth Commission therefore joins hands with the President in this decisive fight. We pledge our full support and call on all well-meaning citizens to rally behind this national agenda. Galamsey must stop—and it must stop immediately.
Let us be bold. Let us be patriotic. Let us act now.
Signed
Mr. Benjamin Kwabena Afram
Deputy National Youth Commissioner
NDC Professional Forum
