All must join hands to end galamsey

Tomorrow is the last day of the three-week ultimatum given by the government to illegal miners to bring their illegal mining activities, otherwise known as ‘galamsey’, to an end.

The move by the government to end the practice emanated from the wanton destruction of the country’s water bodies, farmlands and other infrastructure by individuals and groups from within and outside the country.

Due to the gravity of the situation, a group of media organisations has taken it upon itself to mount incessant pressure on the government through a well-orchestrated and sustained campaign to help address the menace.

It is unfortunate that for decades we have sat aloof and allowed politicians, chiefs, opinion leaders and individuals to seriously abuse the system by allowing such illegal activities to be carried out on rivers, lakes and other water bodies.

Next Friday, the programme by media organisations to force the hand of the government to bring a lasting solution to the menace will be held. The day is to be christened: “National Red Friday” and the move is for a good cause.

The signal we want to send to the authorities is that we can no longer sit down and watch the natural resources of the country messed up with impunity as it is being done.

For instance, the Daily Graphic believes that the government cannot make any meaningful impact with its policy to transform the agricultural sector through its ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ programme which is to be launched officially tomorrow if farmlands are destroyed on a large scale by galamsey operators who force their way onto people’s farms to mine.

Again, our water bodies are all being polluted because of galamsey, a situation which has forced the Ghana Water Company Limited to ration water in many regions.

Sanitation has become another challenge because the environment is being abused in a manner unbecoming of a nation such as Ghana. These and more are hurting the nation and it behoves  us to find a permanent solution to the menace.

We have heard many people ask the government to act with a human face in its attempt to deal with the menace. However, we find that unacceptable because what is happening to our resources is so serious that we need action now, not in the future.

We should not allow this initiative to be suppressed because we have a present and a future to protect.

The excuse that people turn to this illegal means to fend for themselves because they are not employed is simply untenable and must not be tolerated again. This is because we cannot trade the sustenance of our resources and environment for money that will be consumed today at the expense of the future.

Against this background, the Daily Graphic entreats all and sundry to join in the fight to end this unfortunate situation because there is no substitute for water.

We wish the sector minister and the government well in their endeavour to deal with the galamsey issue. We are behind the fight and will do everything possible to name shame and call for the prosecution of the galamsey operators to end this treat to our nationhood.