Bryan Suggests: Freeze Mining For 90 Days!

In a move that could reshape Ghana’s environmental and political landscape, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has issued a powerful call for an immediate 90-day nationwide pause on all mining activities — legal and illegal — citing grave warnings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that mining-related pollution is contaminating the country’s food supply and drinking water.

“Everybody should stop mining in this country regardless of the financial consequences, we have to agree that for the next 90 days, during the rainy season, we should stop mining.”
Dr Acheampong’s proposal, framed as a national act of environmental healing is not a declaration of emergency, but a targeted and time-bound moratorium to allow Ghana’s rivers, soils and communities a chance to recover during the rainy season.

According to his office, the 90-day halt would allow rain-fed natural recovery of water bodies polluted by mercury and heavy metals; give the government time to develop a comprehensive, enforceable framework for sustainable and responsible mining.

The call follows alarming new reports from the EPA that Ghana’s major food staples including rice, cassava, plantain and vegetables now contain trace elements of mining-related toxins. These contaminants, including mercury and arsenic, are seeping into water sources and agricultural lands, moving from mining hotspots in the North to farms and rivers in the South.

“We are poisoning our food. If we don’t stop and act, there will be no people left to fix what’s broken,” Dr Acheampong warned.

A Direct Challenge to the Mining Status Quo
Dr Acheampong’s proposal directly confronts powerful mining interests and could ignite sharp political debate.

Mining is a cornerstone of Ghana’s economy, contributing billions to GDP and employing thousands. A nationwide freeze would have economic ramifications but Dr Acheampong argues that the cost of inaction is far greater.
“This is not anti-mining. This is pro-people, pro-soil, pro-river and pro-future. The economy cannot thrive on poisoned crops and dead rivers,” he stated.

He proposed that Goldbod, the government’s mining oversight institution, lead the moratorium leveraging its mandate and operational infrastructure to suspend mining, monitor environmental recovery and ensure illegal operations do not resume under the radar.

“Goldbod controls our mining systems. This is the moment for them to lead — to prove that Ghana can mine responsibly,” he added.

National Security, Not Just Environment
“This is not just an environmental issue, it’s a national security threat. EPA data from 2024 and 2025 show that major river systems like the Pra, Ankobra and Offin are now heavily polluted. Entire communities are losing access to clean drinking water. Farmlands are turning barren. Children are being exposed to toxins through food and water.

“If ignored, this crisis could spiral into massive public health emergencies, food shortages, and economic instability.”

Dr Acheampong’s proposal taps into growing national anxiety over galamsey, environmental degradation, and the perceived failure of institutions to enforce laws.

His plan would require urgent coordination between the EPA, Minerals Commission, Goldbod, and local assemblies, and would include enforcement, riverbank restoration and a new national policy on Responsible Mining.

A Campaign Defining Moment?
The proposal marks a defining moment in Dr Acheampong’s campaign framing him as a candidate willing to confront uncomfortable truths and stand up to entrenched interests for the sake of long-term national wellbeing.
His campaign’s theme: “Power That Works for the People” is on full display in this high-stakes proposal, a bet that Ghanaians are ready for bold, people-first leadership in the face of environmental collapse.

 

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