The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has reiterated calls for the government to intensify its efforts against illegal small-scale mining, locally known as galamsey.
Bismark Nortey, Acting Executive Director of the Association, expressed deep concern that the destructive activities of illegal miners have severely undermined the livelihoods of farmers across the country.
Speaking on the ‘Frontline’ program on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Mr. Adugwala disclosed that the Ashanti, Western, Western North, and Eastern regions are the most severely affected.
He asserted that illegal miners have forcibly taken over farmlands dedicated to essential food and cash crops, including yam, kontomire, cocoa, and plantain.
Furthermore, galamsey operations have polluted and destroyed critical water sources traditionally depended upon by farmers for irrigation.
”Illegal mining remains a profound threat to farming activities. A lot of our regions are endemic to galamsey… In some other areas, they have also destroyed water sources used for irrigation purposes, meaning farmers can no longer use water from these sources,” Adugwala stated.
The environmental contamination has led the Association to raise alarm over food safety.
The President declared that they could no longer vouch for the quality of food crops sourced from the affected areas due to the extensive land and water pollution.
”Because these water sources and lands have been polluted, we can no longer vouch for the quality of food crops from these areas. That is why it is important for the government to take immediate steps in dealing with the situation,” he stressed.
While acknowledging existing government efforts, Mr Nortey stressed that the response remains inadequate relative to the scale of the crisis.
”The level of the efforts being deployed does not match the level of destruction caused by galamsey. The destruction is ahead of the efforts,” he concluded, urging the government to take drastic action to ensure the immediate resolution of galamsey activities, reduce the destruction, and allow farmers to restore their farmlands.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
