Research Scientist Calls For Stringent Measures To Tackle Galamsey Head On

A Senior Research Scientist at CSIR, Dr. Anthony Duah has called for a ban on the issuance of license for small scale mining, as a first measure in the fight against the illegal mining popularly called galamsey canker. 

Speaking on the topic "War Against Galamsey and the Way Forward" on GBC's Current Affairs Program "Talking Point", Dr. Duah stated that illegal mining has gone past discussions. 

He believes it is about time stringent measures were taken to tackle the menace head on.

The Director of Public Affairs, at the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ahmed Nantogmah blamed locals who front for foreigners to acquire license and the use of heavy equipment by these foreigners as a cause for the surge in the destruction of the environment. 

He said though the Chamber identified these problems and advocated a stop to it, their pleas fell on deaf ears. 

A Network Coordinator at Kasa Initiative Ghana, Kwame Mensah attributed the problem to weak institutions and failure by the security agencies to strictly enforce the law.  

He also mentioned policy gap and the lack of political will as some of the factors that have worked against the country. 

In a related development, the Senior Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, Rev Fred Degbe says lust for wealth is leading many to engage in Galamsey.

He said humans are stewards of the natural resources and so must exploit them in a sustainable manner.

Also the Ghana National Association of Teachers, (GNAT) has revealed that, an increasing number of children of school going age are leaving the classroom to take up illegal mining. 

GNAT says galamsey activities have health implications and this poses a health threat to the children involved. 

The association is therefore calling on the government and relevant stakeholders to show commitment to the fight against illegal mining to save the children. 

The Central Regional Secretary of GNAT, William Abaidoo was speaking at the 5th quadrennial delegates’ conference of the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipal Secretariat in the Central Region. 

He said what is most worrying is that children who engage in galamsey do not wear any protective gear and are exposed to all manner of dangers. 

He noted that they are compelled to abandon their classrooms for gold mining to make a living due to economic hardships.   


GBC