I would like to start with a remark from Dr Randy Abbey about illegal mining in Ghana: ‘Even Lucifer is envious of the level of avarice in this country.’
It is a cruel irony that the soil that should nourish and sustain us has become a battleground, ravaged by the destructive forces of illicit mining, sometimes known as “galamsey.”
This environmental disaster has reached a breaking point, and President Nana Akufo-Addo and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) must take full responsibility.
Despite Akufo-Addo’s bold statement that he would “put his presidency on the line” to combat the galamsey epidemic, his administration has completely failed to deliver on this pledge.
The terrible reality is that under his leadership, the devastation of Ghana’s water bodies and forests has really worsened, with disastrous effects on the health and livelihoods of millions.
Erastus Asare Donkor, an environmental journalist, is campaigning for research on the impacts of galamsey on women’s health, namely maternal health and birth deformities, as a result of mercury use in illicit small-scale mining.
The recent declaration by the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh Dompreh, that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) “polluted the water more than us” is a pitiful attempt to transfer blame.
This is nothing more than a desperate attempt to shift blame away from the NPP’s miserable failure to solve the problem adequately. A ruling party that collects our taxes and has complete control over all institutions.
The truth is that the current administration has contributed to the spread of illicit mining activities, with credible allegations that several political and traditional leaders are directly or indirectly implicated in these damaging practices.
The Fourth Estate’s investigation uncovers that politicians and individuals with government ties are applying for mining licenses in Ghana’s forest reserves, raising concerns about environmental damage and a lack of transparency.
Samuel Pyne and Chairman Wontumi are two notable figures affiliated with the current Akuffo Addo regime.
The Minerals Commission argues that, politicians have the right to apply, but environmental campaigners argue this goes against the government’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
The apparent lack of law enforcement by the very authorities responsible for protecting our environment only strengthens these accusations.
The President’s commitment to “put his presidency on the line” has proven to be empty words, as he has steadfastly clung to power despite his administration’s disastrous inability to control the galamsey pandemic. It demonstrates his arrogance and contempt for the welfare of the Ghanaian people.
The Health Sector Unions and Professional Associations have appropriately raised the alarm, underlining the serious hazards to public health and Ghana’s ecosystem posed by unrestrained destruction of forests and water bodies.
Their suggestion for a total ban on small-scale mining operations, combined with increased regulatory enforcement, is a sensible and important step toward resolving the situation.
However, the Akufo-Addo government has ignored these calls, putting the interests of the powerful and well-connected ahead of the well-being of the majority.
This terrible display of favoritism and corruption has further escalated the galamsey problem, with our villages bearing the brunt of the environmental catastrophe.
This leadership really is a power-hungry administration that has broken the people’s confidence. Nana Ohene Ntow, a former NPP General Secretary, has openly recognized the party’s contempt for the will of the people, claiming that if they win the 2024 election, they will “never respect Ghanaians.”
It’s time for a reckoning. The Akufo-Addo administration has demonstrated its inability to address the galamsey situation, and its ongoing hold on power poses a serious threat to the very fabric of our nation.
Ghanaians must demand accountability, reject the NPP’s phony promises, and seek leaders that value environmental conservation and community well-being.
Ghana’s future is on the line, and we cannot afford to be fooled by the NPP’s deceptive rhetoric and self-serving ambitions.
To start over and get things right, the current leadership must be removed from power. Ghana is facing unprecedented greed, resulting in agony and ruin. Something needs to be done now.
We are all at risk, regardless of our proximity to the mining sites. You and I go to the market to buy our foodstuffs, which may come from these areas.
Let’s think about this. For the time being, our country’s survival depends on prohibiting this small-scale activity suggested by the health organizations.
Source: Evans Mawunyo Tsikata