Devastating consequences of galamsey: Toddler’s death must prick our conscience

Our country by all measures has been blessed with natural resources, but it is facing a crisis that threatens its very future.

A lot has been said and spoken of illegal mining by well-meaning citizens over the past few years. The Daily Graphic has also devoted a chunk of its editorials and other pages to the canker, but the problem seems to worsen by the day.

Illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has become a scourge that is destroying the environment, endangering lives and undermining the socioeconomic life of our country. 
Just last week, tragedy hit Sefwi Akuraa in the Western Region, where the lifeless body of a three-year-old girl was found in an illegal mining pit. This is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of this illegal activity.

The proliferation of the canker in our country is the result of a combination of factors, including poverty, the lack of employment opportunities and weak governance. 
Desperate individuals, often from rural areas, are lured by the promise of quick wealth by their unscrupulous and unpatriotic paymasters to engage in this dangerous and illegal activity.

However, the consequences of their actions are far-reaching and devastating. The environmental impact of illegal mining is staggering. While forests are being destroyed, rivers are being polluted and at the same time, the soil suffers degradation.

The use of toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide in the mining process is poisoning water bodies, making them unsafe for human consumption. We must all note, unfortunately, that the long-term effects of this environmental degradation will be felt for generations to come.

But the consequences of illegal mining go beyond environmental damage. It is also having a significant impact on the economy. Ghana's agricultural sector, which is a significant contributor to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is being affected by the pollution of water bodies and the degradation of the soil. The country's exports, particularly food and cash crops, are also at risk.

Moreover, illegal mining is undermining the rule of law and perpetuating corruption. The illegal mining pits are often operated with impunity, and the perpetrators are rarely held accountable.

This has created a culture of lawlessness, where might is right, and the powerful are able to exploit the weak. The tragedy at Sefwi Akuraa is a wake-up call for the government and the citizens to take decisive action to address the issue of illegal mining.

We know the government has done enough to end the canker but all the efforts are yet to produce the results that concerned citizens expect.

It may be time the government had a thorough review of its approach while also paying particular attention to allegations of political actors and other high placed individuals indulging in the menace.

 The government must thus strengthen the laws and regulations on illegal mining, increase enforcement and provide alternative employment opportunities for those engaged in illegal mining. These must be done on purpose and as a matter of urgency.

The Daily Graphic also believes that the citizenry must also play their part by demanding action from their leaders and refusing to support illegal mining.

The need to address this crisis and ensure a safe and prosperous future for all must be non-negotiable. The death of the three-year-old girl at Sefwi Akuraa must not be in vain.