Independent Presidential Candidate and leader for the Movement for Change and the Alliance for Revolutionary Change, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has expressed grave concern over the lingering canker of illegal small scale mining, popularly known as galamsey. According to him illegal small scale mining in its current form constitutes, what he describes as, an existential threat to Ghana.
A cursory look across the length and breadth of the country, Mr. Kyerematen shares, reveals the extensive destruction caused to water bodies, forest reserves, as well as farmlands as a result of illegal small scale mining. The palpable degradation and destruction to vegetation and its associated ecosystems, in the assessment of Mr. Kyerematen, have regrettably occurred in the last twenty years, during the tenures of both the NPP and the NDC.
“….the ravages of Galamsey and its negative impact on the environment, have been both alarming and incrementally retrogressive”, the presidential candidate noted during a press conference on Sunday, 29th of September 2024, in Accra.
Mr. Kyerematen, however attributes current developments with the exploitation of Ghana’s natural resources, particularly gold, to “much deeper underlying systemic problems of economic mismanagement” which has inadvertently led to critical social challenges such as joblessness and deteriorating living conditions among many Ghanaians.
Notwithstanding the visible economic, social, environmental and security repercussions of illegal small scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, the two major political parties that have governed Ghana have shown no commitment and willingness to efficiently tackle the canker. “Unfortunately, in recently published manifestos of the two dominant political parties, they have demonstrated that they neither have the competence, desire, interest, or political will to deal with the problem of Galamsey”, Mr. Kyerematen stated.
According to Mr. Kyerematen, the current state of affairs demands swift action to safeguard the environment and particularly protect lands and waters from being destroyed any further.
Sefah-Danquah.