We need collective responsibility in illegal mining fight - Sam George

The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George has called for a collective responsibility in the illegal mining fight.

He is therefore urging politicians, chiefs, and all stakeholders to unite in the fight against illegal mining. 

Speaking on Metro TV on Wednesday (Oct 9, 2024), he compared the galamsey crisis to a potential global conflict over water, a resource increasingly under threat.

He warned of dire consequences for future generations if the issue is not addressed immediately. “Water survival is critical,” he stated, adding that even those in power would feel the effects of polluted water. “The water you bathe with is beginning to seep into your skin. It will get into your bloodstream.”

He likened the organisation of illegal mining in Ghana to the operations of drug cartels, urging the government to adopt stronger measures. “Galamsey is Ghana’s drug crisis,” he said, explaining that illegal mining in forests and around water bodies mirrors the way criminal cartels operate.

The MP expressed deep concern over the severe pollution of water resources caused by illegal mining, warning that Ghana risks depleting its fresh water. “It is predicted that the next global war will be fought over fresh water,” George said. “We have it, and we are destroying it.”