by Daniel Kwaku Afari
Akua, a mother of three, gets up early to fetch water for her family in a small village in the Western Region close to Takoradi. However, the river she once depended on has become poisonous and brown.
How would she give her children clean water to help protect them from this sudden outbreak of cholera in her community?
The devastating diseases that had affected her children and many others in the area serves as a sobering reminder of how illicit mining has deprived local communities of clean water and exposed them to deadly illnesses. Families like Akua’s are left to suffer the most from the terrible effects of Galamsey, despite the government’s promises to put an end to it.
A deeper examination of the issue’s underlying causes reveals how some land owners and farmers easily slip into the trap of short term financial gains forgetting the long-term advantages of cocoa cultivation, which takes years to pay off. This choice continues to deprive future generations of their inheritance by leaving the land in ruins and unsuitable for farming or any other sustainable use.
In an unforgiving economy, Galamsey feels like a lifeline to many members of the community. In a nation where survival frequently takes precedence over environmental concerns, illegal mining offers quick money in the face of growing unemployment and limited opportunities.
However, this “solution” is not permanent. A deeper crisis that jeopardizes Ghana’s future is indicated by the devastation of water bodies, the health issues, and the impending danger of importing water.
This is an appeal to professionals to investigate novel approaches to extract mercury and cyanide from contaminated waters, offering safer substitutes to impacted communities. Additionally, the government needs to treat Galamsey as a national emergency that threatens our economy, health, and our very existence rather than just any environmental problem.
We have the laws, it’s time to impose more stringent regulations and encourage good alternate sources of income, and protect Ghana’s resources for future generations. If we can’t save our present lives, let’s protect the one’s of those yet to come.
