The pressure group Arise Ghana has called on the Gold Board to stop gold smuggling and aggregate gold, stating that this move would improve the economy and help eradicate galamsey (illegal mining).

“If there is no incentive to dig, people won’t mind,” Adjei said, emphasizing the need for the Gold Board to play a more effective role.

Speaking at a press conference assessing President Mahama’s first year in office, Prince Derrick Adjei, Convenor of Arise Ghana, emphasized that galamsey is driven by lack of jobs and alternative livelihoods.

“Communities attacking those fighting galamsey are responsible for the threat to our lives,” Adjei said, urging the government to provide alternative livelihoods for those involved in galamsey.

He commended the government for removing thousands from forest reserves and stressed the need to provide for them.

Arise Ghana reiterated that galamsey is an existential threat to Ghanaians and called on the president to continue working with the Gold Board to address the issue.

Report by Bernard K Dadzie Greater Accra