The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, has admitted that the institution lacks the capacity to effectively combat illegal mining (galamsey) on its own.

According to her, the fight against galamsey menace is beyond the ability of any single institution, including the EPA, and requires a coordinated national effort.

“I believe we are at war, and this fight cannot be won by any one institution. The EPA is mandated to protect the environment and coordinate environmental activities, but our capacity alone cannot win this battle.

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"We can monitor, raise awareness, and hold the government accountable, but we simply do not have the manpower or resources to handle this crisis single-handedly,” she stated in an interview on JoyNews' The Probe on Sunday, March 16.

Prof Browne Klutse noted that the EPA has only 777, 77 employees nationwide, making it impossible to effectively monitor and regulate illegal mining sites, especially since mining is just one of many environmental concerns under its jurisdiction.

She stressed the need for collaboration with other state agencies, including the Forestry Commission and the Minerals Commission, Chiefs, among others in managing Ghana’s natural resources.

She noted that despite the ongoing interventions, the illegal miners continue to outpace enforcement efforts, underscoring the urgent need for a more robust, multi-agency approach to tackle the crisis.

“This is not a fight for any single institution. It requires a unified national strategy, stronger security enforcement, and political will to eliminate illegal mining and protect our environment,” she added.