Lawuratu Musah Saaka, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) communication team, has described illegal mining in Ghana as a “security emergency,” criticising the Mahama government officials over their response to concerns raised by religious leaders.
Speaking on The Forum on Asaase Radio on Saturday (25 April), Saaka weighed in on a public dispute involving a senior official of the Ghana Free Zones Authority and the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost over comments on the impact of illegal mining.
She questioned the response to the church leader, suggesting that concerns about environmental and public health impacts were being dismissed.
“If an Apostle will come and say that Galamsey is affecting how they baptize people… and this is a man who is not paid with our taxes,” she said, criticising officials for attacking a religious figure raising concerns.
Saaka added that some government representatives appeared to still be in a “campaign mood,” rather than addressing the seriousness of the issue.
She called for a more unified national response, urging authorities to engage stakeholders and reconsider their approach.
“The government should go back and apologise for the things they said, rally everyone together… because it has gone beyond the environment. It is a security emergency,” she said.
Illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, remains a major environmental and political challenge in Ghana, with mounting concerns over water pollution, deforestation and its broader security implications.
Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra).
Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale).
Listen online: atlanticafricanews.com/, Sound Garden and TuneIn.
Follow us:
X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073
Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3
LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5
Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.
YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra.
Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652.
#AsaaseRadio
#AsaasePa
#TheVoiceofOurLand
