Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has issued a powerful call for a complete moratorium on all forms of mining in Ghana.

She warns that the nation is destroying its water bodies and poisoning itself through illegal mining, known as galamsey.

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.

“Galamsey didn’t 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,” she said.

“It has grown so many thieves that it is killing and poisoning everybody.”

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’s natural resources.

“It’s 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 — that is wrong,” she said.

Justice Akuffo called for an immediate halt to every form of mining — legal or illegal, small-scale or large-scale — until the government can bring order and responsibility to the sector.

“I 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’s call for a pause.”

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.

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.

The MP for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, is alleged to have intervened at the scene, demanding the release of the arrested suspects.