Unexpected tragedy, expected catastrophe

An unexpected tragedy has hit Ghana.

It is reported that a meeting was arranged to discuss issues on mining practices and it is related to fighting galamsey.

In the process, Ghana has lost eight healthy and energetic men in the helicopter crash.

What has happened was not expected, but let us also know that there is a looming and expected tragedy.

The booming galamsey will kill the cocoa sector, because gold production, through galamsey, is more competitive and more attractive.

Cocoa farmers will soon sell their lands to those engaged in galamsey, if that is not already happening.

A bigger devastation will be when the quality of the little cocoa produced from the soils of Ghana is detected to be unacceptable for the world market, because of pollution from illegal mining and the use of chemicals.

Another looming danger is the outbreak of diseases through pollution from galamsey, which is affecting food production and water.

They advise us to eat fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts in addition to our regular foods.

Yet, all these are no longer safe for consumption because of galamsey, and the inaction and indifference of those responsible to act and know better.  

As we mourn and grieve over the painful loss, let us remember the looming catastrophe, which will befall us sooner rather than later if we do not act swiftly and decisively.

Let us wake up and show gratitude to God by doing right. After feeding five thousand men with five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish, Jesus charged His disciples to “gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost’’ John 6:12 NKJV,

In Ghana we are not just destroying the fragments but the main resources God has given us. And that is our calamity. 

Sylvester Asare,
Financial analyst.
E-mail: asaredsylver@yahoo.com