The CEO of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, has called for urgent intervention to address Ghana’s illegal mining crisis, describing it as a national emergency. Speaking on Joy News, she warned that the ongoing destruction of water bodies, forests, and public health poses a severe threat to national security.
Professor Klutse stressed the need for an immediate state of emergency to halt the destruction and accelerate efforts to clean up contaminated rivers. Without swift intervention, she cautioned, the damage could become irreversible. She also emphasized that tackling illegal mining requires a collaborative approach, noting that no single institution can win the fight alone. Agencies such as the EPA, the Forestry Commission, the Minerals Commission, and local communities must work together to enforce environmental laws and restore degraded lands.
The EPA, she revealed, is currently reviewing advanced technologies that could restore polluted rivers within days. However, she maintained that long-term environmental protection will depend on a sustained commitment from all stakeholders.
According to Professor Klutse, the fight against illegal mining is a shared responsibility, and Ghana must act decisively to reclaim its lands and secure a sustainable future.
