GOLDEN STAR MUST COME AGAIN IN WASSA AMENFI

                                               *GALAMSAY, THE DEATH OF ME*

     

Illegal mining which is popularly known as Galamsay has over some few days now become an issue of national interest. The fight against illegal mining has been on the rise after the sectoral minister, Hon. James Peter Amewu gave his 3 weeks ultimatum. Civil society, media and the general public have expressed their displeasure of the menace which has rendered our lands infertile and waters inhabitable for aquatic lives. However, they have all failed to suggest the possible solutions to get rid of the menace once and for all. 

Arguably illegal mining should be looked as a multi-faceted issue which stems it root from inevitable local economic crises, youth unemployment, conservatism and mass poverty. The actual people involved in the activity are predominantly the youths, expatriates and regrettably some legislators of the country. Even though, of course, illegal mining is criminal and punishable by law, but like        His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo said in his public address at Kumasi on April 2, 2017: it is going to be comprehensive with the objective of dealing with this phenomena once and for all in our country. 

To break the challenges down into fragments, it is worth noting that the expatriate who are predominantly Chinese, indeed, register their companies as a small scale with the appropriate authorities. However, they expand and operate beyond their boundaries. On the other hand, the bigwigs buy the machines for the youths to operate on an unauthorized lands and waters to render account for their services. Such situation has been described from the Marxist perspective as the intermediary between production and consumption. 

To clampdown completely the menace of illegal mining, we should holistically consider a package of solutions that ranges from job creation, community education, enforcement, naming and shaming. As a country, we own the land not to ourselves, but hold it in trust for generations yet unborn as captured in the inaugural speech of the president. And so, we can afford to destroy our natural resources today for our innocent children and children children to suffer for our nemesis. Let us not allow illegal mining today make us stand stupid in the face of children tomorrow. We must erase the damage and restore the forest to bind the fauna and flora. We have one Ghana and I SAY NO TO GALAMSAY.

THE WRITER: BANCE SALIFU YARO
CONTACT: +233 246 040 085