Togetherness is the panacea for our woes. The fight against galamsey in retrospect

The popular definition of democracy is ‘government of the people by the people for the people’. I like the way the Akans put it – ‘’Ka bi na menka bi,’’ which literally means, speak your mind, let me speak my mind.

This implies that nation building is in the hands of everyone and everyone has a say in the democratic rule of our dear country. Each and everyone has a role to play in the development of the country though governments are elected to provide leadership.

Leadership has never been easy and dates back from the time of Adam when the forbidden fruit was eaten even though the command was clearand with sanctions. “And the LORD God commanded the man, You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will die” ( Gen. 2:16- 17 NIV). Moses, though a good leader by

all standards, could not make it to Canaan—the Promised Land—because of the stubbornness of the people he was leading. In effect, leaders need the support of their followers to succeed. “Galamsey” (illegal mining) is a threat to humankind.

I am tempted to equate “galamsey” to the slave trade because of the way our fathers of old cannot be entirely exonerated from the slave trade that robbed us of our kith and kin and the untold hardships meted out to them, with most of them dying in the course of the inhuman act. In the same way, some nationals of our country go to the extent of conniving with foreigners to subject our dear motherland to such degradation of the environment. This is not pardonable.

Attempts to halt “galamsey”

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources that is mandated to ensure sustainable utilisation of the country’s resources has over the years come up with various measures to curb the “galamsey” menace.

All the attempts could not yield the impact the media coalition and public support has garnered in the few days of the “#stop galamsey” campaign. The devastating impact of “galamsey” is glaring and one does not need to be a rocket scientist or educated to see it, but for sometime this menace has persisted regardless. We all looked on helplessly waiting for a miracle. But, alas, the miracle

was in our own hands. In fact, on that fateful day – March 27, 2017, when I heard Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, the Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, on Joy FM Super Morning Show expressing his anger at the rate of devastation and his resolve to lead a media crusade to uproot the galamsey menace, my heart was gladdened and I told myself this is the day that we have been waiting for all these years.

Indeed, he has walked the talk and we are all witnesses to the public support it has received from the Clergy, civil society, traditional rulers and individuals. This is indeed the spirit for nation building. One person that I also doff my cap off for is Mr Edem Srem, a freelance journalist, who has over the years made hallowing documentaries on the ‘galamsey’ menace for public education. It was actually his latest documentary titled NATION WRECKERS that caught the attention of many.

Political will

The political will was also overwhelming. For the President to declare boldly that 2020 elections will not deter him from fighting “galamsey” should be applauded by all regardless of one’s political colour.

There had been instances when we have lost the fight due to the fear of losing elections. Secondly, the President’s response to the Chinese when they dared the government in its approach to root out the menace is also commendable. The sector Minister, Mr John Peter Amewu, has demonstrated a lot of political will, having listened to him all this while. I was highly impressed when he declared boldly in Ashanti Region, precisely, AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi in the presence of

chiefs and the media thus, “Those who think their government is in power and will take the laws intotheir hands will not be spared, I will see to the end of galamsey.”

On this note, I will humbly appeal to all that the success so far chalked up on the “galamsey” front should be extended to other cankers that are eating this country up because the solutions to most of our woes are in our own hands. Examples of condoning evil are abundant. For instance, how on earth could someone build a house for rent and not see the need to provide lavatories and yet people will still use their hard-earned money to rent such places? How can one comfortably buy food so close to a gutter that is full of garbage and stinks? How do we look on

unconcerned when people litter anyhow and the lone voice that tries to collect it is not supported by those around? I once saw someone who, after drinking water, did not only drop the sachet on the ground but forced it to enter a covered drain. What a world we live in? Fellow countrymen and women, the “galamsey” fight, if it is won in the long run, will not only be because of the political statements made but the weight we have all thrown behind the government.