Stop galamsey - Veterinary Medical Association urges
The Ghana Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) has added its voice to calls on the government to stop galamsey in the country and also immediately repeal LI 2462, which permits mining in forest reserves.
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The association associated itself with various statements made by bodies such as the Joint Health Sector Unions and Professional Associations, UTAG, Organised Labour, NCCE, Traditional leaders, among others, on illegal mining popularly known as galamsey in the country’s water bodies and forest reserves.
The GVMA condemned in no uncertain terms the act and described it as barbaric, backward and insensitive which it said seemed to be the order of the day in many parts of the country.
It said: “There is no justification whatsoever that warrants the continuity of these heinous acts which BENEFIT only a few individuals, especially those in the political class and traditional authority and regrettably, some members of the Clergy, with the residual negative effects affecting all of us, notably the poor and vulnerable in our society”.
Effects of galamsey
It said the effect of galamsey activities not only affected the water bodies and forest reserves but also threatened food security and sustainable economic growth in the long term, adding that the health risks associated with those impermissible acts were so serious that it was “surprising to see our leaders who claim to have the nation at heart and as such sing the national anthem and recite the national pledge at any given opportunity are not doing enough to curb this menace for the love of the country and its citizens”.
It stated: “As a body responsible for providing the health care and welfare needs of both domestic and wild animal species in Ghana as well as a key partner in promoting public health (One Health) and biodiversity conservation in this country, the GVMA cannot keep quiet for galamsey to continuously destroy the ecosystem which we share with these poor animals especially wildlife species for survival, saying it was very disappointing that despite some scary evidence presented by renowned scientists on pollution and heavy metals contamination-related health risks including pathological conditions such as neurological signs, cardiovascular diseases and birth defects, the Ghanaian authorities have not attached any seriousness to these findings.
Influx of miners
It said the influx of miners into remote areas increased human presence in wildlife habitats, leading to greater conflicts between humans and animals, adding as forests are cleared for agriculture, mining, or human settlement, people encroach into previously undisturbed wildlife habitats.
This increased proximity facilitates disease transmission from wild animals to humans, as seen in diseases such as Ebola, HIV and COVID-19, which are believed to have originated from wildlife in areas impacted by human activities.
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Finally, it said Ghana and its development partners spent so much on activities such as “Green Ghana Day” an initiative by the Forestry Commission aimed at planting trees to replenish our lost vegetation across the country.
It is therefore sad and intriguing to observe that as we struggle to grow and nurture these trees, we are, at the same time, destroying what nature has already blessed us with.
In light of this, we support the call on the Executive and Parliament of Ghana to take steps to immediately repeal LI 2462, which permits mining in forest reserves. This is because it is clear that our authorities are not committed to regulating such activities to benefit the nation in any way.
“We therefore, urge the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and his government, the Parliament of Ghana, the Judiciary, the Forestry Commission, the EPA, our revered traditional authorities, religious groups, the security agencies, the media, and the general public to come together to do the needful to bring these activities to an IMMEDIATE halt for the sake of posterity and sustainable nation building,” it concluded.