President H.E. John Dramani Mahama has indicated that positive results are beginning to show in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining (galamsey), despite the long-standing and deeply rooted challenges associated with the practice.
Addressing participants at the 77th Annual New Year School held at the University of Ghana, President Mahama galamsey has become entrenched in some communities, making enforcement efforts difficult and, in some cases, dangerous for task forces enforcing the ban on illegal mining.
He, however, urged all institutions involved in the anti-galamsey campaign not to give up, stressing that their efforts are gradually yielding results.
“We’re implementing sustainable mining practices, protecting forests and water bodies, investing in renewable energy, and strengthening climate adaptation for vulnerable communities. I want to commend the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in their fight against the Galamsey.
“It has so entered the fabric of our people that it’s not been an easy fight. Communities have mobilized to attack the task force when they have gone to enforce the ban on illegal mining and so I’ll encourage the task force, the minister, the Environmental Protection Agency, all of those involved in the fight against illegal mining, please don’t give up, there are some positive results beginning to show.”
President Mahama outlined key government interventions, including the implementation of sustainable mining practices, protection of forests and water bodies, investment in renewable energy, and strengthened climate adaptation for vulnerable communities.
He specifically commended the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, as well as NAIMOS and river guards, for their role in restoring polluted rivers.
To demonstrate the progress made, the President shared a personal experience during the Christmas period when he visited Crown Forest, a nature reserve.
According to him, after crossing a stream at the reserve, he enquired about the river and was informed it was the Ayensu River, which had shown visible improvement.
“Recently during the Christmas, my house was like the Makola market, every person who knows the family, friends, business people, everybody wanted to come and spend a few minutes wishing us Merry Christmas, and so on 25th, the house was full outside the cast packed all the way to the main road and everybody coming to take just a few minutes of our time to wish us Merry Christmas.
“Madame Lodina said, we cannot take this stress and so pack your bag, I’m taking you out of town. We ran away to a place called Crown Forest where they have some zebras and giraffes and for the first time in two years, I slept at nine o’clock in the night and woke up at nine o’clock the next morning and it was a very peaceful, serene environment.
”But why I raise it is that when you go to where they have the animals, you cross a stream and before we cross the bridge, I asked them which river is this? They said it was the Ayensu River. And they said, if you had come here six months ago, this water was the color of coffee. It says now is the color of light Milo and so it’s getting better, so we appreciate the work that NAIMOS and river guards are doing, apparently the river guards had operated upstream where the mining was taking place and so it had changed the color of the water.”
President Mahama attributed the improvement to the operations of river guards upstream, where illegal mining activities had previously polluted the river.
He therefore called for intensified and sustained efforts to consolidate the gains made so far in the fight against galamsey.
“That’s why I’m encouraging you to keep up the fight and even strengthen it.”
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
