When the water utility giant, Ghana Water Company, proposed increasing utility tariffs by 281%, mainly because of the toxicity and turbidity of water coming from its source, the river bodies, and going on to blame irresponsible and illegal mining or galamsey, I sang this song, “Nearer El Salvador to Thee,”with the same tune as “Nearer my God to Thee.”
On the subject of environmental degradation through irresponsible and illegal mining, I will always refer Ghanaians to El Salvador. This South American country had over 90% of its natural water bodies, heavily polluted with wastes from heavy metals, and so in March 2017, there was a total ban on all forms of mining.
The ban was driven by concerns over the pollution of water bodies, public health risks associated with mining pollution, and the recognition that mining was an unviable activity so far as the country’s environment and water conditions are concerned.
In 2017, when I read about El Salvador, I feared that with the average Ghanaian’s modus operandi and ambition to excel more than other nationals, if galamsey was not halted immediately then all our natural water bodies including the Volta Lake and River, will be heavily polluted with toxic wastes.
With the arable lands made infertile and also polluted, food stuff production will not meet national requirement and Ghana will have to import water, foodstuffs and other vegetables from neighbouring countries.
H.E. Nana Akufo Addo swore on his presidency to eradicate galamsey, however, his efforts were of no effect as some people very close to him were in that business and so he could not find ways of bringing them to book. His minister of environment, Prof. Frimpong Boateng, presented a confidential report on galamsey to him and clearly named some top government and party members who were deeply involved in irresponsible and illegal mining. This report rather, showed minister the way out of government.
On record, the former president failed to put his foot down to push ahead his determination to halt galamsey. The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, after several times presenting statements against the degradation of the environment and meeting with the president on a number of occasions on this issue, organised prayer walks, asking the Holy Mother of God, Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for Ghanaians.
Meanwhile the opposition NDC took this way up to another level, coming out with street protests and reminding Nana Addo that as president, he had the power, to put a stop to galamsey, within a matter of a few weeks. Top members of the party spoke so boldly to portray to all Ghanaians that when the NDC came back to power, galamsey would be eradicated in less than a month. They demanded that Nana Addo must order states of emergency in all galamsey areas. To them, that would easily halt irresponsible mining.
President Akufo Addo had a full report on who were the kingpins in that irresponsible and illegal business. The Mineral Commission and Prof Frimpong Boateng’s reports named among many others, Akonta Mines, who were illegally mining in forest reserves and yet in the presence of God and His people in a church, H.E. Nana Addo, told mankind that Akonta Mines was never mining in any forest reserve. So, for whatever reason, Nana Addo could not halt illegal and irresponsible mining.
On January 7, 2025, H.E. John Mahama of the NDC took over office as President of Ghana and with that the NDC formed government. Many Ghanaians thought that the end to galamsey was closed. The Western and Central regions were having portable water issues as Ghana Water Company was finding it difficult in processing water from the turbid and polluted water bodies.
With aggressive noises made by the NDC when in opposition, many Ghanaians thought that by latest, the first quarter of H.E. John Mahama’s term, galamsey, would be a thing of the past. Unfortunately, it looks like the state of emergency the NDC called for, could not be implemented by its government.
This NDC regime should not disappoint Ghanaians, because if it does, it could be the end of democracy in this country. The NDC members are clearly showing to the world that they believe in The Theory of Dissimulation and Double-Standards, under the Political Theory of Organised Chaos, for how could they condemn the NPP on issues but commit the same faults when the NDC is in power and yet have the audacity to explain themselves?
And the reasons the NDC is giving for not proclaiming states of emergency in galamsey areas, is not too clear. For if the government finds it problematic to stop irresponsible and illegal mining, then how come the NDC in opposition insisted that the NPP government should do so?
And in all this I hear Bernard Monah coming to tell us that it is too earlier to proclaim states of emergency, because what if he chooses to go into the forest to hunt for bush meat and get killed on suspicion that he was going to do galamsey. Does this make any sense, at all? Is Bernard Monah saying that until all the bush animals have been hunted down, a state of emergency must not be implemented in galamsey areas?
Bernard Monah took part in the Catholic Prayer Walk in Accra against irresponsible and illegal mining, during the Akufo-Addo era, so he must surely have immediate solutions on to how to halt galamsey within weeks.Why is he not sharing them with the NDC government?
The seriousness about the devastating effects of irresponsible and illegal mining, is gravely showing up. We have the Ayensu River, once a blue water body even in 2024, but has now become a heavily polluted and turbid water body, unfit for domestic purposes. With that the Kwanyako Water Works cannot produce good drinking water for thirteen districts in the Central region.
Ghana Water Company has come out to express discomfort in water purification due to the turbidity of water which comes from the rivers and water bodies which is also highly polluted with toxic waste. Processing pure water is now becoming more and more costly and the ordinary Ghanaian must pay more than he does. Tariff are to go up 281% if good job is to be done. This means if a consumer pays GH¢50.00 as water bill every month, he will now pay GH¢190.50.
Things would not cease becoming scarier. Ghanaians are now being told that the Metal Impact Assessment conducted by Pure Earth and Environmental Protection Agency, in six regions in Ghana namely, Ashanti, Western, Western North, Eastern, Central and Savannah,has revealed that there are higher levels of poisonous metals in the soil, foodstuffs and fish, which is at least five times above the safe limit. This poses serious health risk which adversely affects humans, not only by consuming contaminated foods but also having contact with the soil.
If this does not wake-up all Ghanaians, including those in the mining areas, to make sure there is a halt to all forms of mining, then we must welcome El Salvador2017. Very soon, high level of contaminants, very dangerous to human health, will be found in over 90% of water bodies and even the soil we stand on will not be safe.
When this happens, it will only mean that we will have to import foodstuffs and fresh drinking water from neighbouring countries. Our health bills will sky-rocket as cost of treatment for many diseases that would affectthe ever-growing number of people. Today we are told that the number of infants suffering from cancer is fast increasing.
In all this government keeps giving excuses for not taking immediate and drastic measures to halt all forms of irresponsible and illegal mining. After the helicopter crash, last month that killed ministers, OmaneBoamah and Mustapha Muhammed, we saw a serious looking Hon. OkudzetoAblakwa assuring Ghanaians that very soon government was going to take drastic measures to stop galamsey. Yet to date, nothing has been seen to be done. In September 2022, then in opposition, Hon Ablakwa called on the NPP government to halt all forms of mining so as to be able to curb galamsey. But today, in government, he is not making any of such suggestions.
What has made the NDC to be impotent in the fight against galamsey? Yamin of the NDC known to be behind irresponsible and illegal mining, was seen on television saying that it was through galamsey that the NDC was funded to fight the elections brought the party back to power, implying that it cannot be stopped by the current government.
But are there other reasons? Please stay tuned for Part 2.
Hon. Daniel Dugan
