The National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers (NASPAWAP) has asked President John Dramani Mahama and his government to roll out a ruthless approach that is far more excessive in dealing with illegal mining popularly known as galamsey.
Public Relations Officer for NASPAWAP, Mr Agyapong Ntrah, opined that the activities of illegal mining have destroyed our water bodies, forest reserves, and left us in a state of crisis across all sectors.
Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Mr Ntrah disclosed that industry players in the water business have been badly affected and that has extended to those in the pharmaceutical sector.
He noted that although he supports the declaration of a state of emergency, it would be better to introduce a more ruthless approach to solve the issue once and for all.
‘’Galamsey is a national crisis. We are destroying our water bodies and forest reserves. We are poisoning our environment and we do not have to allow this to continue again. We are all calling for a state of emergency, but we at the NASPAWAP prefer a more ruthless approach. We should no longer treat these illegal miners with kid gloves. We have to be ruthless and show them no mercy. Some claim these illegal miners are doing that due to unemployment. That is insulting. Why should the greed of a few poison our water and destroy our environment? Deploy the soldiers and police and let them descend on these illegal miners.’’
He warned that water treatment and the cost in providing clean drinking water for Ghanaians would come at a cost and possibly increase the prices of sachet and bottled water.
He also lamented that Ghanaians have started expressing fear in buying sachet and bottled water due to recent studies and research conducted into the impact of galamsey on our sources of water, especially the ones provided by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).
By: Ranbowradioonline.com/Ghana
