PRES. MAHAMA CALLS CSOs TO NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON ILLEGAL MINING

President John Dramani Mahama has invited Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) across the country to a high-level engagement on illegal mining, scheduled for Friday, October 3, 2025, at the Jubilee House in Accra.

The meeting, which begins at 12:00 noon, is expected to serve as a platform for frank and constructive dialogue between government and civil society on the menace of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. The engagement aims to harness collective expertise, perspectives and innovative solutions towards tackling the environmental and socio-economic challenges posed by the practice.

Invited groups include major faith-based organisations such as the Catholic Bishops Conference of Ghana, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, and the Office of the National Chief Imam.

Policy think tanks and governance bodies including Arocha Ghana, IMANI Ghana, the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), and the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) are also expected to participate.

Professional associations such as the Ghana Bar Association, the Law Society of Ghana, the African Women Lawyers Association, the National Association of Law Students, and the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) have received invitations, alongside advocacy and rights-based organisations including Amnesty International, SEND Ghana, ActionAid International, STAR-Ghana Foundation, WACAM, Eco-Conscious Citizens, and the Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape.

The engagement will also feature representatives from the extractive industry and natural resource governance groups, notably the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Natural Resource Governance Institute, Centre for Extractive and Development Africa, the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), and the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition.

The Presidency has emphasized that the discussions will form part of a renewed national effort to build consensus on sustainable and responsible mining practices. President Mahama is expected to deliver a keynote address, reiterating government’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s environment and livelihoods while promoting responsible use of natural resources.