Mr Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, the Central Regional Minister, has promised to reward communities in the region that actively fought against illegal mining, also known as galamsey with more development projects.
Mr Eduamoah, during the Central Region Security Council’s working visit to an illegal mining site at Assin-Ewusem, a farming community in the Fosu Central Municipality, said the move was intended to encourage all illegal mining endemic communities, to join the crusade against the menace for mutual gains.
He said these wrongful acts must not continue just to satisfy the greed of some few selfish people, whose actions posed serious threat to life and the future of the country.
He said the fight against galamsey was a national call to duty, requiring collective responsibility from all stakeholders, particularly traditional authorities and communities directly involved.
The Minister and his team saw more than ten football fields degraded with impunity by the illegal miners, some five minutes’ drive from the community, and wondered why various stakeholders had allowed the wonton devastation of the lands.
When the Council arrived at the site at about 1400 hours on Tuesday, the area appeared deserted except for an excavator and quantities of ‘chanfans’ (an equipment for extracting gold from riverbeds) and other large machines used to extract gold from riverbeds, known for causing extensive damage to water bodies by dredging and releasing toxic chemicals like mercury.
There were also mounting heaps of soil, shelters and several dugout pits containing water that appeared greenish, with their outlets leaking into the Okye river which joins the Pra River into the Atlantic Ocean.
Sadly, many children were seen bathing in the stench-filled ponds containing poisonous chemicals, while others fetched the contaminated water for house chores.
Alarmed by the vast devastation, Mr Eduamoah said, “God has been gracious to the region and blessed us with an abundance of precious minerals, rich vegetation and peace-loving people and these must not be sacrificed on the altar of greed and self-interest.”
“We have to win this fight and ensure that our forest and water bodies return to blue and the forests, green again,” he said.
Despite his regrets at the turn of events, he said the government remained committed to clamping down on illegal mining activities in the region, particularly in water bodies, adding that there would be transparency and collaboration without intimidation or political colouration.
“What is illegal is illegal and must be stopped; it is a fight for our life and future. It will not just be the responsibility of the government but all stakeholders. There are a good number of stakeholders whose attitudes and cooperation will have a major impact on our efforts to regulate the sector,” he said.
“The chiefs will have a role to play, the security agencies have a role to play, local authorities such as Assembly members, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives have a role to play, so do citizens, particularly those from mining communities who will also have a role to play,” Mr Eduamoah said.
“It will require the collective national action of all of us to be able to sanitise the mining sector of our country. if we are to succeed in the fight against illegal mining and the ongoing environmental degradation, we must involve our traditional leaders to spearhead the fight.”
Mr Eduamoah, stated that the fight against galamsey must be led by the chiefs and traditional authorities in every nook and cranny of this country, and that it was important to note that the President had been very consistent in his resolve against galamsey and did not intend to shield anyone engaging in the act.
Later, the Council briefly paid a curtsey call on the elders and the people where they pledged the community’s commitment to collaborate with the security agencies to end the menace in the area.
Mr Gregory Ankomah Gyakye, the Assemblyman, expressed his readiness to mobilise the community to join the fight against illegal mining to its conclusion.
Some residents who spoke with the Ghana News Agency, said they were not pleased with the move to end the menace regardless of its socio-economic and health impact.
“Apart from teachers and nurses in this community, there is no work for the youth, so the illegal mining is the biggest employer in these areas…so why do you want us to stop if you have not provided any alternatives,” they inquired.
They demanded that the government engage them so that they could agree on their terms of conditions, failure of which they may find it difficult to quit their present activities, being illegal mining.
GNA
