Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has appealed to Ghanaians, urging collective responsibility in the fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
The Minister emphasized that addressing the galamsey crisis cannot be left solely to the government but requires the active participation of every citizen, as it poses a severe threat to the environment, livelihoods, and the nation’s future.
Her call comes at a crucial time when illegal mining activities continue to ravage Ghana’s natural resources, particularly its water bodies, forests, and farmlands.
Speaking during a staff durbar at the Ghana Meteorological Agency on Wednesday, October 9, Ms Owusu-Ekuful expressed deep concern over the environmental destruction caused by galamsey.
She pointed out that, illegal mining has led to widespread environmental degradation, polluted water bodies, and damaged ecosystems, leaving irreversible scars on the land.
The Minister stressed the need for a unified and determined approach to tackle this issue, insisting that the government alone cannot bear the responsibility for ending galamsey.
She also urged a change in public attitudes toward environmental protection, encouraging Ghanaians to view the environment as a shared inheritance that must be preserved for future generations.
Owusu-Ekuful cautioned that without a shift in mindset and behaviour, the country risks losing its natural resources to illegal activities driven by short-term profits at the expense of long-term sustainability.
“I am firmly against the destruction of our environment by illegal miners. This is a collective duty that we all must take seriously. Galamsey cannot remain solely a government issue.
“We must work to change our attitudes as Ghanaians, protect our environment as a legacy for the next generation, and treat it with the seriousness it deserves,” she urged.
Source: Adomonline
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