Dr Frank Serebour, the president of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), has warned the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government that they will be booted out if they don’t fight illegal mining (galamsey).
According to the GMA, they are joining the galamsey fight to reduce preventable diseases in the country.
Speaking to Citi News on Thursday, September 18, 2025, Dr Frank Serebour stated, “When the GMA asked political parties to declare their positions and sign a pact, we wanted clarity on where they stand.
Some called for strike action, but strikes aren’t sustainable. The only consequence politicians fear is electoral loss. My message is: if you don’t fight it, we’ll boot you out”.
He further highlighted, “We should continue to apply pressure. We will continue to talk and to advocate”.
Pressure has been mounting on the Mahama-led government to declare a state of emergency on galamsey and intensify its fight against galamsey.
Also, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has issued a stern warning to illegal miners commonly known as galamseyers.
The land minister revealed President John Mahama’s focus is clear as he wants to take direct control of every river body.
According to the lands minister, there will be a clear occupation by security agencies on all Ghana’s river bodies.
Armah-Kofi Buah warned galamseyers violating and destroying water bodies to stop, as the government is determined to turn the water blue again.
Speaking during an anti-galamsey operation with officers of the National Anti-illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) at Ankobra River from Wiawso Armah-Kofi Buah stated, “We are sending a warning to anybody who has been violating our laws and destroying our water bodies. We are determined to turn them blue again.
“This order has already been given — stay out, or you do so at your own peril,”
“We are moving to another major phase of our fight against illegal mining. There is no law in Ghana that allows anybody to mine in any river body,” he said. “Yet, our major rivers that are key to our survival are being destroyed.”
“In the coming months, you will see a new shift. President Mahama’s focus is clear — we are going to take direct control of every river body. There will be a clear occupation by our security forces on all the major rivers,” he said.
Additionally, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications and MP for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, has revealed that the John Mahama-led government will intensify their fight against galamsey.
According to Kwakye Ofosu, the military will be stationed permanently in 44 galamsey areas.
The minister highlighted that, unlike in the past administration, where security forces would conduct short-term operations before withdrawing, the military will be stationed permanently in the galamsey areas.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face programme on Tuesday, September 16, Kwakye Ofosu stated, “All the 44 areas that are threatened by galamsey, there is going to be a permanent military presence”.
“In the past, they would go and flush out the characters engaged in galamsey and then leave, but now they will have a permanent military presence”.
He added, “All the rivers we have will have a permanent military presence”.
Meanwhile, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has admitted that the John Mahama-led National Democratic Congress government can do better in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey).
Ablakwa highlighted that Ghana is on a suicidal path if the country does not win the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
He, however, expressed confidence in President Mahama’s commitment to tackling the galamsey menace, adding that he believes the government will succeed.