Suspend All Mining to Save the Environment — Sophia Akuffo

In a forceful call to action, former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo urged the government to impose a full moratorium on all mining activities in Ghana, citing the severe and escalating environmental damage caused by both legal and illegal mining operations. 

Widespread Damage, Growing Crisis

Speaking on the television programme The Point of View on 5 November 2025, Akuffo warned that the phenomenon of illegal mining—widely known in Ghana as galamsey—has grown out of control, severely threatening the nation’s water bodies, farmlands and food security. 

“Galamsey didn’t become intractable in 2025; it became intractable long ago … It has grown so many thieves that it is killing and poisoning everybody.” 

She lamented that the majority of mining-related devastation has been allowed to continue due to political interference and public passivity. 

Call for a Comprehensive Moratorium

Akuffo did not limit her call to illegal mining alone. She emphasised that every form of mining—small-scale, large-scale, licensed or unlicensed—should be paused while Ghana reassesses its approach to resource extraction and environmental conservation.

“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.” 

Context: Conflict and Enforcement

Her remarks follow recent violent confrontations involving anti-illegal mining task forces. On 1 November 2025, a team from the National Anti‑Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) was attacked at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region after arresting suspected illegal miners; firearms and unregistered vehicles were seized in the incident. 

Such incidents illustrate the difficulty of enforcement when mining activities are deeply embedded in local economies, political patronage and complex supply chains.

Implications and Next Steps

By advocating for a full mining pause, Akuffo is calling for a radical surgery rather than a quick fix. The proposed moratorium would allow Ghana to:

• Halt further damage to rivers, forests and farmland;
• Re-assess mining regulations, licensing frameworks and enforcement mechanisms;
• Strengthen environmental protection laws and align them with international standards; and
• Develop viable alternative livelihoods for communities dependent on mining activities.

Challenges & Critiques

A full moratorium, however, poses substantial economic and political challenges. Mining contributes to Ghana’s export earnings, jobs and local economies in several regions. Shutting down all mining—even temporarily—could trigger backlash from industry stakeholders, local communities, political actors and the supply chain.

Yet, Akuffo argues that the cost of inaction is far greater: environmental degradation, health risks, loss of agricultural productivity and the irreversible loss of Ghana’s natural heritage.

What the Government Must Do

Akuffo’s appeal places the ball in the court of Ghana’s government. Key actions include:

• Considering the declaration of a state of environmental emergency linked to mining;
• Temporarily halting all mining operations while a thorough audit and review is conducted;
• Cleaning up contaminated sites and rehabilitating ecosystems;
• Holding to account those who facilitate and profit from destructive mining practices—even when legally licensed; and
• Engaging local communities and stakeholders in designing sustainable mining, environmental restoration and livelihoods diversification.

Conclusion

Sophia Akuffo’s impassioned appeal highlights a fundamental tension: Ghana’s drive for economic growth and natural-resource extraction against the imperative to protect the environment, water security and future generations.

As she warns: unless the nation takes bold, immediate action, Ghana risks mining not only its resources—but its future too.

For a deeper analysis of the environmental impact of mining in Ghana—along with case studies of river degradation and community responses—see our forthcoming feature on NsemGh.