The Executive Director of Climate Frontier Advocacy (CFA), Dr John Baptist Naah, asserts that despite the current government’s efforts to combat illegal mining, the existing measures are insufficient to effectively tackle the issue of ‘high-tech galamsey’.
Dr Naah highlights that illegal miners are presently utilising heavy machinery to rapidly devastate forests, rivers, and farmlands.
Consequently, he urges the government to implement a targeted state of emergency in areas severely impacted by illegal mining, also referred to as galamsey.
Dr Naah expresses concern that Ghana’s natural resources are being depleted at a rate that surpasses the government’s intervention efforts.
He queries the remaining forest cover, given the extensive destruction caused by illegal mining activities.
“The primary forest cover in Ghana has been shrinking ferociously,” he said. “It was 8.8 million hectares in 1900. It reduced to 4.2 million hectares in 1950 and further reduced to 1.5 million hectares in 1999.”
“Can you imagine how much primary forest cover is now left in the midst of this ferocious high-tech galamsey menace? Your guess is as good as mine,” he stated.
He added that our rivers have been poisoned through illegal mining activities.
He noted that the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining poses serious risks to Ghana’s food security, water safety and increased climate shocks.
“The once sacred, clean and life-giving rivers have sadly turned into brown and poisoned rivers as a result of the relentless practice of high-tech galamsey,” he said.
“The potential of causing food insecurity, water scarcity and more climate shocks now and in the future for Ghanaians is real,” he warned.
“Our farmlands, natural habitats for wildlife including flora, are also not spared, and we are showing no agency in this matter.”
He went on in stating that “Mr President, CFA’s score for your efforts in the high-tech galamsey fight is not good enough, as a better score is expected of you by Ghanaians,” he said.
“It is also our view that the creation of the office of the Minister of State for Climate and Sustainability may be an exercise in futility if this high-tech galamsey fight is not won,” he added.
“This agent is the immediate declaration of a targeted state of emergency on high-tech galamsey hotspots to halt the ongoing destruction,” he said.
“We are also recommending that there should be a temporary ban or suspension on all illegal operations, including small-scale mining now, or a freeze on unauthorised mining concessions,” he stated.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
