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In the midst of Ghana’s galamsey problems, former Afigya Kwabre South New Patriotic Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah said, “I will not be surprised if years from now the country will have to import water. We are destroying our lands, cutting down our cocoa trees, and the behavior of some politicians, media, clergy, chiefs, and other influential people involved in galamsey business.”
Following the rapid spread of pictures of degraded lands and water bodies on social media, reports of illegal mining have recently come back to life.
Even though Ghana requires licences for small-scale mining, it is thought that 70% of these miners are not registered and work illegally.
Galamsey, which means to “gather and sell,” is the native term for them.
In a Facebook post, COKA asked;
“What legacy are we leaving for our future generation? What plans do we also have for our children and great-grandchildren? After World War II, the Germans spent a lot of money before they could get quality and potable water for their people. In Germany, one bottle of water could buy two bottles of beer; meaning water is more expensive than beer but in Ghana, it is the opposite.”
The aggravating issue is that the young people who are being utilized by the “big people” are still in poverty. Those in power are exploiting today’s youngsters for their own personal gain.”
He further questioned what the nation would say to the following generation if the nation ever needed to import water because of threats from galamsey in the future.
“What are we going to tell our great-grandchildren some years to come, when they ask us about why we import water, why we are not the leading cocoa producing country as it was some years back and why can’t we get land to farm on or build?
Let’s wake up and say no to Galamsey because it is ruining our lands and our nation.
Why can’t we promote ethical, controlled, and overseen community mining?
Galamsey should be declined because the last time he saw the rivers Pra and Birim, he sobbed.
Read what COKA posted on Facebook:
While illegal mining supports livelihoods, it has caused severe damage to the environment. It is blamed for the destruction of farmlands and pollution of water bodies. It also denies the state revenue: an estimated $2.3 billion in 2016.
What legacy are we leaving for our future generation? What plans do we also have for our children and great grandchildren? After the World War II, the Germans spent a lot of money before they could get quality and potable water for their people.
In Germany, one bottle of water could buy two bottles of beer; meaning water is more expensive than beer but in Ghana, it is opposite. The way we are destroying our lands, putting down our cocoa trees and the behavior of some politicians, media, clergy, chiefs and other influential people involved in galamsey business, l will not be surprised if years to come the country will have to import water.
Those above are using the youth of today for their selfish interest and the annoying thing is that those youth who are used by the “big people “ are still poor. What are we going to tell our great grandchildren some years to come, when they ask us about why we import water, why we are not the leading cocoa producing country as it was some years back and why can’t we get a land to farm on or build?
Galamsey is destroying our lands and our country so let’s wake up to say no to Galamsey. Why can’t we encourage proper community mining which can be regulated and supervised. Let’s say no to Galamsey because the last time l saw river Pra and Birim l wept. Coka,l care
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
