I have held the view that Akufo-Addo is singularly responsible for this high-tech tech galamsey (HTG) mess witnessed now due to insincerity and ineffectiveness, unprecedented greed as well as obvious lack of leadership, commitment and political will of his regime to deal with it (see https://www.modernghana.com/news/1340149/akufo-addo-is-singularly-responsible-for-the-preva.html, 10. September, 2024).
Apart from the complicity of the Akufo-Addo’s regime to fight the prevailing HTG phenomenon, joblessness among the teeming youth is a contributory factor to the escalation of destruction and pollution of our forests and rivers in mining enclaves in the country.
As per the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey Quarter Three Labour Bulletin for 2023 reported an average unemployment rate of 14.7% in the country. The millions of the youth seeking for jobs find themselves engaging in the HTG operations, despite the associated devastating effects on human health, natural environment and water bodies is attributable to lack of decent jobs in the system.
Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime‘s half-hearted approach to fighting this complex socio-ecological problem is obvously not working because the ‚big fishes‘ (financiers of the HTG business) while the ‚smaller fishes‘ (youth working in the pits) are arrested or being maimed or jailed instead.
Apart from the 24-Hour Economy Policy cited as one of my not-business-as-usual solutions to addressing the HTG menace, you can find the rest in this publication (https://www.modernghana.com/news/1278812/high-tech-galamseyhtg-under-npp-is-devouring.html, 10. December, 2023).
It is undeniable fact that the expansion of the local economy through this 24-Hour Economy Policy will have positive rippling effects on macro-economic indicators. Mahama’s 24-Hour Economy Policy is a potent tool to halt high-tech tech galamsey. Here is why.
Furthermore, as a deliberate policy of the Mahama-Opoku-Agyemang-led regime, the 24-Hour Economy Policy will target critical sectors of the economy such as agribusiness, construction, pharmaceutical, service, etc. sectors with tax incentives and enabling environment for companies to provide sustainable and well-paying jobs for the teeming unemployed youth with wide range of skills.
Additionally, this 24-Hour Economy proposition is a vehicle upon which both private and public institutions in the named critical sectors above to run 24 hours with 3 shifts to employ more youth.
The unemployed youth are patronizing HTG activities because they don’t have alternative livelihood opportunities to make a living and fulfil their dreams. The availability of decent jobs for the youth through this transformative 24-Hour Economy Policy will encourage more youth to abandon these dangerous HTG operations and find better jobs to do.
On the back of President Mahama’s 24-Hour Economy Policy, the HTG menace will be immediately halted because the youth will find alternative jobs to do while stringent measures are taken by government to clean and restore affected lands and water bodies in mining areas.
Indeed, this proposed 24-Hour Economy policy is a game changer and a very potent tool to addressing this socio-ecological problem confronting Ghana now. As captured in Mahama’s 120 days social contract with Ghanaians, a blueprint policy document with necessary legal amendments will be drafted for the 24-Hour Economy Policy for effective implementation of this transformative economic proposition.
We all need to rally behind President Mahama and the NDC to deliver for all of us to benefit from the transformative and innovative policies that will be rolled out within 4 years of this regime.
