{"id":102155,"date":"2025-11-06T07:48:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T07:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=102155"},"modified":"2025-11-06T07:48:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T07:48:00","slug":"shut-it-all-down-sophia-akuffo-demands-total-ban-on-mining-as-galamsey-ravages-ghana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=102155","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Shut it all down\u2019 \u2013 Sophia Akuffo demands total ban on mining as galamsey ravages Ghana"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has issued a powerful call for a complete moratorium on all forms of mining in Ghana.<\/p>\n

She warns that the nation is destroying its water bodies and poisoning itself through illegal mining, known as galamsey<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Speaking on Channel One TV on Wednesday, November 5, Justice Akuffo said the crisis has been allowed to fester for years due to political interference and national complacency.<\/p>\n

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\u201cGalamsey didn\u2019t become intractable in 2025; it became intractable long ago. And we have been playing games around it, dancing around it, and now it has become a political issue,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt has grown so many thieves that it is killing and poisoning everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

She described the situation as a national disgrace, urging citizens to rise against the destruction of rivers, farmlands, and food crops through reckless exploitation of the country\u2019s natural resources.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s about time Ghanaians woke up and stopped being childish. We cannot continue to pollute our waters and our lands. A gift from God, we have used it to poison ourselves \u2014 that is wrong,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Justice Akuffo called for an immediate halt to every form of mining \u2014 legal or illegal, small-scale or large-scale \u2014 until the government can bring order and responsibility to the sector.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI believe there should be a moratorium on every form of mining, whether legal or illegal, small-scale or galamsey, until we sort ourselves out. This quest to mine our resources has gone out of hand. Let\u2019s call for a pause.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Her comments come after a violent attack on officials of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region on November 1.<\/p>\n

Police reports indicate that the team was attacked by a mob after arresting illegal miners near Bronikrom. They had seized weapons, unregistered vehicles, and mobile phones when the assault occurred. <\/p>\n

The MP for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, is alleged to have intervened at the scene, demanding the release of the arrested suspects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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