Professor Sharif Mahmud Khalid, Economic Advisor to the Vice President, has sounded a dire warning about fight against illegal mining, known as galamsey in the country. 

According to him, this national battle is doomed to fail unless every institution in the country takes up its constitutional responsibilities.

Speaking on Joy News’ Newsfile, Professor Khalid emphasized that relying solely on the President John Mahama to tackle the issue is a grave miscalculation.

 “In my view, the fight against galamsey will fail if we leave it all to the President. It is a shared responsibility,” he asserted.

Professor Khalid stressed that every individual and institution has a crucial role to play in combating galamsey. While acknowledging the President John mahama’s ability to issue directives and deploy measures like the military, he emphasized that such actions are insufficient without strong institutional backing.

“The sustainability of the anti-galamsey campaign lies solely in the strength of the institutions,” Professor Khalid declared. He called for a shift in focus from political figures to building lasting institutional capacity, ensuring these institutions are independent, empowered, and accountable.

Highlighting the severity of the situation, Professor Khalid warned that the degradation of the country’s water bodies and forest reserves affects every citizen, regardless of political affiliation. 

“We need to make sure that the institutions are working, that they are independent, and that they are empowered to do their work. That is where the focus should be. It is not about a political party or an individual. It is about the future of Ghana,” he urged.

In essence, Professor Khalid views the fight against galamsey as a national survival issue that demands collective action and institutional fortitude.