The President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr. Frank Serebour, has urged Ghanaians to hold politicians accountable at the ballot box over their handling of the illegal mining menace, popularly known as galamsey.
He stressed that the health and survival of communities are at stake, warning that failure to address the crisis will continue to burden the nation with preventable diseases and long-term environmental destruction.
Speaking to Citi News on Thursday, September 18, 2025, Dr. Serebour explained that the GMA’s involvement in the galamsey fight is rooted in the association’s mandate to protect public health.
He said polluted water bodies, toxic chemical exposure, and degraded farmlands resulting from illegal mining activities directly contribute to rising cases of kidney disease, skin infections, diarrhoeal outbreaks, and other serious health conditions in affected communities.
“When the GMA asked political parties to declare their positions and sign a pact, we wanted clarity on where they stand. Some called for strike action, but strikes aren’t sustainable. The only consequence politicians fear is electoral loss. My message is: if you don’t fight it, we’ll boot you out,” he stated firmly.
Dr. Serebour emphasised that while healthcare workers can issue ultimatums and even consider industrial action, such measures are short-lived. In his view, sustainable progress requires political will, which can only be enforced when citizens demand accountability from leaders. “We should continue to apply pressure. We will continue to talk and to advocate,” he added, stressing that civic responsibility is key to breaking the cycle of empty promises.
The GMA president also pointed out that galamsey is not only an environmental and health threat but also an economic one. He noted that mining communities suffer from food insecurity because of destroyed farmlands, while polluted rivers increase the cost of water treatment for urban centres.
He warned that if decisive action is not taken, future generations will inherit a Ghana stripped of its natural resources and left with irreversible ecological damage.
Dr. Serebour further indicated that the GMA will step up its advocacy efforts in the coming months. This, he said, will include public education campaigns, collaborations with civil society organisations, and direct engagement with political parties ahead of the 2028 elections. The goal, he explained, is to ensure that no party can sidestep the galamsey issue without facing consequences at the polls.
The GMA’s stance adds to mounting pressure on government and political leaders to find lasting solutions to illegal mining, which has remained a national crisis for decades despite numerous task forces and policy interventions.
