Dr. Godfred Andoh, Chief Executive Officer of the St. Georgina Healthcare and Consultancy has applauded the government for the befitting state burial accorded the eight dead victims, who lost their lives in a tragic helicopter crash on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
The CEO of St. Georgina Healthcare, however, called on government to further honour the memory and sacrifices of the fallen heroes by ensuring that the fight against illegal mining activities continues unabated to achieve the desired results.
He further urged the government and Ghanaians as a people to come together and adopt practical ways to curb the menace because that is the best way to “immortalise them”.
Dr. Godfred Andoh, who also doubles as Pastor of the Truth Revival Ministry at Fabi-Chirapatre, Kumasi, disclosed that the fight against the menace is a collective one, which requires the effort of government, chiefs, media and churches, among others.
The Health Consultant called on the government to enact stringent laws against galamsey, as well as embarking on an intensified sensitisation of the populace on the adverse effects of galamsey, and also educate the citizenry to distinguish between small scale mining and illegal mining (galamsey).
Dr Andoh further urged Nananom to play their role in the fight against galamsey by avoiding the release of lands to individuals who do not possess legitimate documents to engage in mining.
The Chief Executive also urged churches to educate their congregations on the adverse effects of galamsey, stressing that the Almighty God made human beings custodians of the land, hence human beings have the responsibility to protect it, and not go against God’s will.
Turning to the media, Dr.Andoh called on practitioners to educate the public, without politicising the national canker.
The CEO of St. Georgina Healthcare noted that the national effort to fight the menace was necessary because galamsey destroys the fertility of the soil, which could result in famine, as well as high cost of foodstuffs.
It also tends to be health hazard as people within the galamsey-prone areas tend to contract peculiar diseases, such as congenital disorders, due to utilisation of hazardous chemicals by illegal miners.
He recommended that the government recruits youth from galamsey-prone areas and equip them with requisite skills to fight the canker, as well as set up industries in those areas to deter them (youth) from engaging in illicit activities.
From Oswald Pius Freiku, Kumasi
