In a rare and emotional scene at the Kwanyako Water Treatment Plant in the Central Region, the Ashanti Regional Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Kwabena Yandoh, went down on his knees, pleading with President John Mahama to take urgent action against illegal mining popularly known as galamsey.
Yandoh said the plant has become a casualty of the galamsey menace, with polluted rivers making water treatment increasingly difficult and unreliable. He warned that thousands of Ghanaians risk losing access to safe water if the situation is not addressed immediately.
“Mr. President, this is no time for politics. Your own campaign promise was to declare a state of emergency on galamsey. The time is now, because our people are suffering, and our water is disappearing,” Yandoh appealed.
He stressed that illegal mining is not just an environmental crisis but a direct threat to public health, food security, and the future of the nation’s children.
Yandoh’s plea adds to a growing chorus of voices demanding urgent government intervention. Just last week, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference described illegal mining as a “cancer in Ghana’s national soul,” calling on the President to declare a state of emergency in affected mining zones and along endangered water bodies.
The Bishops warned that galamsey has poisoned rivers, destroyed farmlands, and endangered entire communities. They urged government to match words with action by prosecuting offenders, restoring degraded lands, and protecting livelihoods.
With both political and religious leaders pressing for decisive steps, pressure is mounting on the presidency to deliver on its promise before the galamsey menace pushes Ghana’s water crisis beyond repair.
Watch an excerpt of Yandoh’s plea in the video in the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18YQTAxGGC/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Source: Purefmonline.com || 2025
