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             GALAMSEY MENACE. By Atta                    George Peprah

High incidence of galamsey or illegal mining in recent times, have been on several discussions and heated debates for some time now and has perplexed the minds of the general public in Ghana. Ghana is one of the world's biggest producers of cocoa beans, is facing a crisis around dangerous and dirty galamsey. 
 The factors that combine to trigger someone involve in this illegal mining are easy to identify. One major cause of this devilish act is the burning desire for material things.
It is always the ambition of most young men and women to get rich quickly in order to obtain whatever is fashionable. Such people would want to dress gorgeously, own mansions, ride the latest cars, have access to modern sets of furniture and become millionaires at a point. Devoid of the milk of human-kindness, it is not surprising to find these people attacking the defenseless Virgin lands.
Galamsey does not only pollute rivers and other water bodies but also leaves death traps for miners themselves and other individuals. During my time at SHS (Abuakwa State College) galamsey operations in the East Akyem District were polluting the Birim river which served as sources of water for communities in those catchment areas. In spite of the negative effects of illegal mining on rivers and other water bodies, We the students and  communities in the  areas, due to lack of alternative sources of water, tend to use the same polluted rivers without any fear. They drink, cook, bath and perform all tasks with the polluted water in spite of the risk of contracting diseases such as cholera, dysentery, fever, and a students was drawn into pits and died.



The pollution of rivers also has significant effects on the activities of the Ghana Water Company in its mandate to provide safe drinking water to Ghanaians. For instance, a few years ago the Ghana Water Company shut down a water treatment plant due to the fact that chemicals used for treating polluted water had become expensive. The company also had to shut down its water treatment plant at Kyebi for one-and-half years due to the pollution of the Birim river.




In spite of the rampant destruction of the environment and water bodies left in the trail of galamsey activities in most communities across the country, there are some who have guarded against the menace and it is so refreshing to know.

One such place is Akim Hemang, a small farming community in the Eastern Region where galamsey is a ‘no no’.Some members of communities have been crusading against this menace and are helping the cause of the task force. One such person is the Chief of Hemang in the Fanteakwa District, Osabarima Mmirrikkissi Okasum Apori Atta.
The recent report carried by the October 20 edition of the Ghanaian Times newspaper in which ‘galamsey’ operators in Obuasi went on rampage destroying offices, posters, banners and billboards of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is cause for concern. The report indicated that the illegal miners chanted “no galamsey, no votes”. If this is not the height of impunity, then I do not know what else is.   


 The time has come for government, civil society, NGOs, traditional authorities and well-meaning Ghanaians to move away from the rhetoric and take more decisive action to stem the ‘galamsey’ menace which threaten our survival and our ability as a nation to achieve the goals outlined in the SDG framework by 2030. The fight against ‘galamsey’ is a fight for survival.

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