Youth must lead fight against galamsey — Prof. Gordon

GHANAIAN youth have been called upon to lead the fight against illegal mining, to achieve desired results. 

They are being called to action because the menace is a threat to their present lives as well as their future. 

The Director of the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies at the University of Ghana, Professor Christopher Gordon, made the clarion call at the second edition of the Achimota Speaks event in Accra last Wednesday.  

The event, which had the theme: 'Ghana's Death by Galamsey: Who Will Bell the Cat?’ was attended by Old Students of Achimota Senior High School (Akoras), environmental science specialists and a cross section of Ghanaians. 

Grave threat

Professor Gordon, who gave the keynote address, stressed that the consequences of illegal mining would affect future generations the most, thus the youth had to take the lead role in curbing it. 

"Youth must champion this cause relentlessly. If not, this will be a grave threat to the nation's future," he said. 

He asked the youth to 'be ready' for severe public health crises if the nation did not halt the reckless destruction of the country’s natural resources.

The UG Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies Director also indicated that solving the issue required urgent, multifaceted solutions involving the research community, local voices and government. 

Impact 

Professor Gordon described how illegal mining had created a vicious cycle of ecological destruction, with sediment from Ghana’s land washed into the sea.

“We are losing Ghana’s land area. Ghana as a nation is disappearing because of this,” he warned.

He also highlighted the severity of mercury poisoning to public health, with dire consequences on water accessibility, food security and biodiversity. 

"Galamsey has grown to affect nearly every aspect of Ghanaian life. Rivers and lakes, once sources of potable water, now run polluted, carrying mercury and other toxic residues from unregulated mining practices," he stated. 

Prof. Gordon noted that the economic impact of galamsey had compounded the environmental crisis. Beyond this, he also highlighted the damage to agriculture has hit the nation’s staple cocoa industry, with production dropping drastically.

Shared responsibility 

The President of the Old Achimotan Association, Joel Nettey, appealed to all Ghanaians to unite in the national interest, without politicising the issue. 

He reminded attendees that illegal mining affected everyone and transcended political party loyalties, drawing attention to the long-term public health effects associated with toxic mining residues, including the birth of babies with deformities due to exposure.

“All Ghanaians need to approach this crisis with a sense of shared responsibility and commitment to change,” he stressed.