President Mahama to Meet CSOs on Galamsey Crisis October 3

 September 30, 2025 

President John Dramani Mahama has invited major civil society organisations to the Jubilee House for a high-level engagement on illegal mining, widely known as galamsey.

The meeting, scheduled for Friday, October 3, 2025, at 12:00 noon, is expected to bring together government officials and civil society leaders to deliberate on lasting solutions to the environmental and social crisis posed by galamsey.

According to a letter issued by Dr Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, the dialogue will serve as a platform for frank and constructive discussions aimed at harnessing collective expertise and perspectives.

"This engagement aims to provide a platform for frank and constructive dialogue between the Government and civil society on the menace of illegal mining, with a view to harnessing collective expertise, perspectives, and solutions to address this national challenge," the letter stated.

The engagement comes at a time when illegal mining continues to spark public concern over its destruction of water bodies, farmlands, and forest reserves, with widespread calls for decisive action.

Civil society groups have been at the forefront of advocacy against galamsey, organizing public campaigns and calling on government to take stronger measures to protect Ghana's natural resources. The meeting represents a direct engagement between the presidency and these advocacy groups to chart a path forward in addressing the crisis.

Galamsey has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges facing Ghana, with illegal miners using heavy machinery and chemicals like mercury to extract gold, leaving devastating effects on the country's ecosystem and threatening the livelihoods of communities dependent on farming and clean water sources.