Eco-Conscious Citizens GH, a Ghanaian environmental organization, has criticised President John Dramani Mahama for his refusal to declare a targeted state of emergency in communities affected by illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”
The organization voiced its concern over the President’s response to a question regarding his failure to follow through on a strong assurance he gave during his 2024 general election campaign to take such action.
Awula Serwah, the Coordinator of the organization, stated that individuals involved in illegal mining pose a significant threat to national security and should be treated as criminals.
She argued that even in conflict zones, the destruction of water bodies is considered a war crime, and therefore, those whose activities have polluted Ghana’s water sources must face severe sanctions.
Lamenting the severe environmental damage,
she highlighted that 60% of the country’s water bodies have been destroyed by illegal mining activities.
Madam Serwah warned that the window of opportunity to address this issue is rapidly closing, noting an increase in cancer and kidney disease cases linked to polluted water.
She questioned the President’s hesitation, asking if he was waiting for more dire consequences before taking decisive action against illegal mining.
“The situation is dire. 60% of our water bodies are polluted. Water is life, and without water, we’ll all die. One is asking, what does the President want to see before he realizes that the situation is serious? Does he want every Ghanaian to drop dead? If you have other options, why have you not employed them? Are we waiting for every Ghanaian to die first? Are we waiting for 100% of our water bodies to be contaminated and our forest reserves to be gone? You cannot downplay this situation. It is a matter of life and death. We face an existential threat.”
She expressed hope that galamsey can be dealt with if Ghanaians demand action from the government.
She also encouraged Ghanaians to vote the government out should it fail to deal with illegal mining as it promised to do.
”I am confident that Ghanaians will declare to the current administration that they are not going to sit there and be poisoned. They will sit up. People did not necessarily vote for the current administration; they voted against the last administration, so they will expect that you will deal with illegal mining. So now, if you had come promising we will declare a state of emergency, we will repeal L.I. 2462—these are promises you kept in removing the E-Levy and betting tax. Why can’t you stop illegal mining? What is the point in removing the betting tax and E-Levy if you are not doing anything to stop me from being poisoned?”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
