Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, has called for decisive action against illegal mining, arguing that Ghana owes it to the victims of the August 6 helicopter crash and everyone else who has died because of the menace.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Thursday, August 6, as Ghana marked the first anniversary of the crash that claimed eight lives, Ms Serwah described illegal mining as an “ongoing ecocide”.

She said the helicopter tragedy should not be viewed in isolation but as part of a wider environmental and humanitarian crisis that continues to claim lives across the country.

“First of all, my condolences. But it goes to everybody who has died in the course of this insanity. It’s an ongoing ecocide,” she said.

According to her, the victims extend beyond the eight officials who died in the helicopter crash.

“We have children who have fallen into open pits and died. We have deformed babies. We have mothers who have lost their lives giving birth as a consequence of mercury poisoning. And, of course, we have police officers who drowned while trying to chase illegal miners on our water bodies.

“Everybody who has died, we owe it to them to do something about this menace, this ecocide that is destroying Ghana,” she stated.

Ms Serwah cautioned that initiatives such as responsible or community mining would not solve the problem unless the authorities strictly enforced the law.

“You can call it community mining, you can call it responsible mining, you can call it any name you like,” she said.

“The reality is that unless you have the resources to monitor and ensure that those who have licences operate within the parameters of those licences, it’s not going to be particularly helpful.”

She explained that possessing a mining licence does not make an operation lawful if the holder fails to comply with the conditions attached to it.

“If you have a mining licence but you go outside the parameters of your licence, you’re engaged in illegal mining,” she said.

Ms Serwah also questioned whether Ghana had the capacity to supervise the growing number of mining licence holders effectively.

“I’m a bit concerned about the number of licences being issued. Are we in a position to monitor and ensure that all those who have licences are operating according to the conditions of those licences?” she asked.

She maintained that the illegal mining crisis remained severe, with mining activities continuing in forest reserves and water bodies.

“The situation is dire. Let’s be honest. As we speak, there is still galamsey in forest reserves. There is still galamsey on our water bodies,” she said.

Ms Serwah accused some traditional leaders, political authorities and police commanders of looking on while illegal mining continued with impunity.

“A lot of the time, it seems the chiefs, the political authorities and the police command are just looking on while illegal mining is going on with impunity. Now there seems to be a sense of entitlement, which is quite worrying,” she stated.

She also called on the Ghana Water Company to publish detailed water-quality test results, including data on heavy metals, to help the public understand the extent of pollution caused by illegal mining.

“We are campaigning for Ghana Water Company to publish not just the turbidity levels, but also the heavy metals, so that Ghanaians can begin to appreciate the seriousness of the situation we find ourselves in,” she said.

Ms Serwah concluded that Ghana could end illegal mining if its leaders demonstrated the necessary commitment.

“We can do it. All we need is the political will,” she stated.