Renowned Ghanaian economist, Kwame Pianim has stated that illegal mining, commonly known as Galamsey in Ghana should be stopped completely.

Speaking in a Joy News exclusive interview with Samuel Kojo Brace on the AM Show on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, the statesman did not seem to believe in any political party's plan aimed to tackle the menace effectively.

"Illegal small-scale mining should be stopped completely, there is no economic, social, political reason for doing it," he said, adding "Look, the president should be commended, he may take a step in the right direction but it's not enough".

Mr Pianim bemoaned the current state of water bodies in the country, "Look at our rivers…. all the rivers are muddy, is that what we want?” he quizzed.

He suggested ways to tackle the menace including communication and implementation of legal actions, and also asked that "Everybody who is running to become President should tell us their proposal now, what they are going to do about it".

The statesman again said it should be a collaborative effort to tackle the menace hence "the medical doctors should tell us the genetic reproductive system of our women who are there (illegal mining communities) and all of us in Accra who are eating the foods (produced in illegal mining areas), and then geologists should come tell us how it's impacting the soil for agriculture".

He also advised "And those who are not President yet can say I am setting up a committee of scientists, technologists, lawyers to look into this, when I become President on the 7th of January, I'll convert this into a presidential commission, and their results will come within three months, I'll have the right solution that will solve this problem for all of us".

Many Ghanaians including climate change activists and the media continue to pile pressure on the government to take decisive and sustainable steps to end the galamsey menace.