The youth of Nyamebekyere in the Western Region have appealed to the government to provide alternative jobs as they find a lasting solution to illegal mining activities in the country.
According to them, there are no jobs for them to rely on apart from galamsey. They added that if government wants them to stop galamsey, they should find something for them to do to survive.
One illegal miner known as John Benuba stated that life has become very difficult and unbearable and the only way for them to put food on their table is to engage in galamsey.
“My brother who broke his legs three months ago is even involved in illegal mining because I can’t afford to take care of him alone”.
“We have no other choice than to rely on galamsey to make ends meet or we have to steal before we can survive”, one Alhassan Abu recounted.
Akosua Serwaa, who is a mother of two also indicated that the only way to support her husband to take care of their family through galamsey and if the government does not find them alternative jobs to do, the fight against galamsey will be difficult.