Galamsey fight must be won at all cost
The galamsey menace is no longer an environmental development challenge; the problem cuts across all facets of the economy. To begin with, galamsey has degraded our environment and polluted all major water bodies in the areas where it is carried out.
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Task forces have been formed and mandated to stop galamsey activities, but the successes chalked up have been temporary, as the powerful elements involved in the illegal activity pull the political strings to get our governments to develop cold feet over the exercise.
Since the Media Coalition Against Galamsey launched its campaign, various interest groups have attempted to frustrate the effort. Even now, small-scale miners have issued an ultimatum to the government, calling on it to come clean over what the “stop the galamsey campaign” is all about.
Again, a section of galamsey operators have dared the government to kick them out of business and face the consequence in the next general election.
It is, however, refreshing that the Media Coalition Against Galamsey does not appear deterred by the threats issued by people engaged in illegalities that threaten the survival of our country.
The coalition has committed itself to achieving certain goals, including a complete halt to illegal mining, reclamation of degraded lands, restoration of polluted rivers to fresh water bodies and the prosecution of those who have caused us this pain.
The media practitioners have, time and again, called on the government to quantify the harm illegal mining has caused the economy, including the health of the people and the threat to agricultural productivity.
Various studies conducted by public institutions, such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, indicate that the wrongful use of cyanide and mercury is impacting negatively on the health of the people and food security.
We are also told that the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) is spending extra resources to produce potable water from rivers polluted by the activities of galamsey operators.
And as if these are not enough, the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) has said it is unable to carry out maintenance works on its installations at Akwatia, Nsutam and Anyinam in the Eastern Region because of illegal mining going on close to its towers.
Every day, we are greeted with the dire consequences of illegal mining, but so far action appears slow in halting this national tragedy.
The Daily Graphic is not saying nothing is being done to deal with the galamsey challenge. But we think the danger associated with this illegal practice requires more stringent measures to bring it under control.
Meanwhile, we commend the government for putting the “fear of God” in galamsey operators, leading to the situation where they find it difficult to engage in the trade with the kind of impunity they used to display in the past.
The Daily Graphic believes that time is not on our side, and it is for this reason that we call on all men of goodwill, be they politicians, religious leaders, businessmen or ordinary citizens, to stand up and be counted in this fight of our very lives.