Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, Convenor of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, has reiterated the group’s commitment to intensify its fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, by the end of September.
During an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV’s Face to Face, Dr. Ing. Ashigbey joined the chorus of voices calling for urgent action against galamsey, demanding that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo declare a state of emergency.
Dr Ashigbey attributed the galamsey crisis to leadership failure, prompting President Akufo-Addo to take decisive measures against galamsey.
“We have a few things that we’re asking of the President, which include declaring a state of emergency over our water bodies, the buffers of it, the forest reserves and revocation,” he said.
He emphasised the need for the education of the farmers and locals living around galamsey areas on the dangers of galamsey.
“Who is benefitting from this? We need to tell the poor farmer and the women that maybe when he earns GHC200 for the work that he’s doing in a day. And now he has to buy water, the fact that that child that had been born deformed, the fact that land his forebearers have been using to take people to schools, is not going to be [sustained]. The politicians are benefitting from the lack of the knowledge of our people.
“I think that the media what we need to do is to bridge the linkage between the impact of what they are doing and actually what it is.”
Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey voiced concerns over the relentless pollution of Ghana’s water bodies, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action.
“Our political leaders need to realise that we are in a desperate situation, the situation where the Ghana water is now, even if they now change it from using alum to make the water clear, they are not able to take the heavy metals out of it. When it’s clear, it doesn’t mean that it’s cleaned. And so, you are forcing us to drink this water. If you have a situation where turbidity of water is by now over 14,000 and now there’s drought also happening, so it’s even going to compound the situation.
“The state needs to realise that the trend that we allowed them to get away with it, is completely gone, we’re in a desperate situation.”
The Convenor of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, chastised Ghana’s middle class for their perceived indifference and complicity in the fight against galamsey.
“The middle class has been complicit about the fight, they have been quiet, because they are the people who have been benefitting out of it.”
