Omanghana
The Executive Director of the West Africa Centre for Counter-Extremism, Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar, has urged the government to declare a state of emergency in communities severely affected by illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Muqthar made the call during WACCE’s 9/11 Memorial Security Dialogue in Accra, where he described illegal mining as more than an environmental problem. He warned that the activity had developed into a serious national security threat requiring urgent intervention.
According to him, galamsey operations often thrive in poorly governed areas where state authority and law enforcement have been weakened. Such conditions, he explained, could create opportunities for extremist groups operating across the Sahel to exploit vulnerable communities and establish networks.
Muqthar said illegal mining should have been declared a national emergency long ago, considering its effect on the environment, public institutions and the security of affected communities.
He called for an emergency response that would enable the government to confront the problem with greater urgency and firmness while restoring effective state control in illegal mining areas.
The Executive Director of the Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building, Adib Saani, also stressed the need for closer collaboration between state security agencies and civil society organisations.
Saani argued that Ghana’s internal security challenges could not be addressed by uniformed personnel alone. He urged the National Security Secretariat to work with civil society groups that have established relationships and trusted networks within local communities.
He said such partnerships would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community engagement and help authorities identify emerging threats before they escalate.
The dialogue highlighted the need for a coordinated response involving government institutions, security agencies, civil society and affected communities to address both illegal mining and the wider security vulnerabilities it creates.
Source: Omanghana
