Let’s work together to halt illegal mining
It cannot be disputed that mining done on any scale impacts on the environment, and that is why there are regular checks by designated authorities to ensure that mining concerns work according to laid down rules.
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Unregulated mining, however, escapes all the necessary checks and results in massive destruction of the environment.
For a long time illegal mining has become the bane of many communities, with the communities resigning themselves to the destruction visited on their water bodies and farmlands because the authorities are at their wits’ end concerning the appropriate steps to take to halt the menace.
‘Galamsey’ operations have become so complex and sophisticated and involve foreigners and their local collaborators who use very sophisticated weapons to ward off security personnel mandated by the government to stop their operations and people considered as intruders.
Although the Ghana Chamber of Mines has made attempts to regularise the operations of small-scale miners to be able to monitor their activities, that has, to a large extent, not worked.
One of the reasons ascribed for the inability to stop illegal mining is the calibre of people behind its operations who include some highly placed officials, as well as some traditional authorities.
But although there seems to be no end in sight, we urge all to join in the fight to halt the operations of destructive mining companies — small or large scale. Communities where mining activities take place must especially liaise with the security agencies to stop further destruction of their water bodies and farmlands.
After destroying all the water bodies, the illegal miners are now destroying farmlands in communities such as Bepotenten and Gyamang in the Amansie Central District in the Ashanti Region which have also suffered the impact of illegal mining.
As reported in the Daily Graphic yesterday, the level of devastation in those two communities has resulted in some residents abandoning their farming activities and relocating their families to other communities to prevent them from falling into the open gulleys created by the illegal miners.
What we find hard to believe is the assertion by the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) that it knew nothing about the activities of Madam Huang, alleged to be in charge of the operations, that have resulted in the destruction of many acres of farmland using heavy equipment.
We also find worrying the statement by a former Assembly Member for Bepotenten, Madam Janet Addei-Gyimah, that within the last three years, six children had died because they fell into the abandoned pits created by the miners.
What more proof do we need to swing into action to save our lands from illegal and unregulated destructive mining?
We are not saying that mining activities must not be conducted. The Daily Graphic, nonetheless, believes that not every mineral needs to be mined, especially if it will result in more losses than gain to the country.
We all need to work together to stop the canker from further degrading our environment and the resources needed for human existence.