The Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape (CCAL) has called on the Government of Ghana to declare a State of Environmental Emergency in response to the escalating environmental degradation within the Atewa Landscape.
In a statement issued on Tuesday (21 April), the group warned that unregulated and illegal mining (galamsey) activities are rapidly destroying forests, polluting water bodies, and degrading farmlands in the area, posing a serious threat to both ecosystems and local livelihoods.
Describing the Atewa Landscape as a critical national asset and a major source of water, CCAL stressed that the current situation requires urgent and decisive intervention to prevent further damage.
While acknowledging the economic importance of mining, the group argued that the prevailing unstructured practices are unsustainable and dangerous. As part of its proposed solution, CCAL is advocating for the immediate adoption of a Cooperative Mining Framework to regulate activities within the landscape.
According to the group, the framework would involve identifying and registering all miners operating in the area, organizing them into legally recognized cooperatives, and providing mandatory training in responsible mining and environmental protection. It also proposes that mining licenses be restricted to cooperatives, alongside strict enforcement of land reclamation and restoration measures.
CCAL further called for the establishment of a multi-stakeholder consortium comprising traditional authorities, district assemblies, relevant government agencies, and civil society organizations. The consortium would be tasked with coordinating efforts toward responsible mining, environmental restoration, and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods.
The group maintains that declaring a State of Environmental Emergency would provide the necessary legal backing and urgency to implement these reforms, including the rapid organization and training of miners.
CCAL expressed its readiness to support the process through community engagement, technical assistance in land reclamation, and stakeholder coordination, adding that it will intensify engagements with the media, government institutions, and traditional leaders in the coming days.
“The time to act is now,” the statement concluded.
