It is commendable how citizens have become extra conscious and critical of the galamsey menace. It appears this is because people are now aware it is our present and future that is at stake. It is certainly not right that a few self-seeking individuals enrich themselves at the expense of all- the land bleeds. How long should it continue? This is the only country we have and if our land and water resources can no longer support us out of contamination, would we eat gold? Without these natural resources what life would we have? That is why it is justified to be concerned.
At the just ended UN Ocean Conference at Nice in France, participating fishermen and advocacy groups from West Africa raised serious concerns about industrial overfishing carried out by foreign fishing vessels operating in our coastal waters. This illegal activity is negatively impacting local livelihood and marine ecosystem with many West African nations grappling with depleting fish stock. This will have far more devastating impacts in the future if it continues at this rate. Can you imagine how life will be one day here when fish becomes scarce?
As far back as 2018 I heard a Fishing Observer speak about fishing illegalities he witnessed on board the fishing vessel he was assigned to by the ministry in an attempt to monitor such Illegal fishing activities on sea. He felt powerless to raise it up with his authorities because it was open secret some of them were involved- benefiting from that system. It is also open secret some fishing observers are bribed by the vessel operators so they can turn a blind eye to Illegal fishing activities on board. The fishing vessels do hire some locals to work on board, but the low wages paid to this local crew to support the foreign crew on these vessels also push those local crew to participate in these illegal fishing activities so they can get extra income. This puts the fishing observer who is on board to monitor these activities in a vulnerable situation since it is only him against the entire crew on the middle of the sea for several days. How effective can he be when his own security is in question? This brings to mind the case of one young fishing observer by the name Emmanuel Essien who lost his life in mysterious circumstances on board a Chinese fishing vessel in 2019. This was after he recorded a video of the fishing crew illegally transfering fish to canoes. This activity termed Saiko is prohibited. He was first reported missing from this fishing vessel. Weeks after his body was discovered floating in a lagoon. In 2023 another fishing observer by the name Samuel Abayateye was also pronounced missing at sea. This case as well remains a mystery.
I may not be fully updated about the latest developments at the sector now, but the current reports from the UN Ocean Conference indicate difficulties persist and much more needs to be done. We need to put in more effective measures to protect our land and sea resources. Our lives depend on them. We need to prioritise our people. It is all linked with this. It is because we do not value our people that much that is why our land and natural resources are not valued as they should be as well, it translates to this basically. We must set and maintain high standards so people do not come from their countries to abuse our system with impunity. There should also be a conscious effort to develop our human capital, and also to create more opportunities for gainful employment so our people do not have to engage in illegal activities such as galamsey- be it either on land or at sea just to survive.
