FOLLOWING a three-week ultimatum given to illegal mining operators, popularly referred to as galamseyers, Today is compelled to revisit this matter in this column. In an interview with Daily Graphic, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. John Peter Amewu, declared that a three-week ultimatum has been given to galamseyers to stop; failure on their part to cease their activities will see them face the full rigours of the law.
HONESTLY, it seems as a people we are bereft of solutions to the galamsey menace. There is no denying the fact that galamsey is bad; it destroys our environment and pollutes our water bodies which pose serious health risks to Ghanaians.
TODAY is also not surprised that solutions proffered to addressing galamsey have been unsuccessful. Today we have galamseyers creating death pits in our gold mining communities which are claiming the lives of innocent residents.
THE ultimatum by the sector minister appears to be a last resort to curbing galamseying once and for all. But the question Today wants to ask is: will this measure address the galamsey menace? Haven’t we as a country tried a more aggressive option where military and police personnel were deployed to gold mining communities in this country to stop galamsey? What was the outcome?
THE fact is that all these measures have not been able to cure the problem of galamsey. Rather such measures and warnings appear to be goading the galamseyers on to carry out their activities.
WHAT is more, we have been warned of a looming water crisis in this country in the next two decades if steps are not taken to deal with galamsey. This is basically because of the fact that galamseyers continue to destroy our water bodies.
SO the question is: what is the way forward? Yes, we admit that galamsey is bad and must not be allowed to continue. We also agree that steps should be taken to protect our water bodies and environment.
HOWEVER, giving ultimatums to galamseyers will not solve the problem permanently. At best it will only suppress the menace but eventually it will resurface.
THIS is why Today still believes in ensuring that we register these galamseyers and offer them proper training regarding how to prospect for gold so they avoid the use of mercury in search for gold. The registration will certainly come with regulation of their activities where those who fall foul of the laws will be dealt with accordingly.
AND until that is done, Today believes that these ultimatums and use of military personnel will not help us achieve our goal of permanently dealing with galamsey.
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