The president of the National House of Chiefs and paramount chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso traditional area, in Western North,Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, has made interesting interjections on galamsey issues in the country.
In September 2020, the Minerals Commission issued a statement asking Akonta Mines, owned by Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) to stop its illegal mining in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserves. With this, critics demanded that the chiefs should ask President Nana Akufo-Addo to punish Chairman Wontumi.
In the following month, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II urged all chiefs not to rely on rumours and that persons with concrete evidence to back the claims that Akonta Mines and others were engaging in illegal mining should make it available for the necessary actions to be taken.
The issue here is a bit confusing. What need for further evidence if an authority comes out with such findings? All that will be required is for investigation to be carried out.
With compliant of galamsey coming to the chiefs, either they send people to the sites and they personally go there to verify for themselves and have the evidence.
Now, with the evidence of galamsey very overwhelming, there are public demonstrations against this illegal act with calls for its total ban. In this month of September, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II came out to oppose the call on banning of illegal mining activities. He stressed that mining plays a crucial role in the country’s economy and argued that halting its operations would have negative consequences.
He has now acknowledged the damages caused by illegal mining, probably he has now got the evidence. His recommendation for efforts to be focused on promoting responsible mining practices, while illegal mining goes on, distorts logic.
There is no way, responsible mining practices can be promoted, while galamsey still goes on. A proverbial Akan adage has it that, one does not stand in thorny bush to remove thorns from his body. To reverse the route of a trailer rolling downhill, you must first stop it.
Ogyeahoho Gyebi II went on to say that mining creates significant employment opportunities, especially for the youth and warned that a blanket ban could lead to widespread job losses.
Heis also claiming that he is against galamsey and will continue to fight against it, but it should not be halted. So, what is he fighting?
As things stand today, galamsey is creating a devastating effecton our environment. Our water supply system is breaking downbecause our water bodies areheavily polluted with toxic chemicals. Portable water supply is in grave danger and soon it will be reduced drastically to the extent that it will be very difficult to get good and clean water anywhere.
As things stand, aquatic life which provides us with fresh water fish and other food, is dying slowly and soon there will be nothing for consumption.
As things stand, our arable lands are disappearing with surface soils excavate to expose the inner soils which are not ideal for cultivation.
As things stand, cocoa farms are gradually disappearing, and oil palm is getting extinct, because of galamsey. Cocoa production will reduce this year to the lowest level in recent years. Ghana may cede its second position in world cocoa production to become number six.
As things stand, Ghana may soon not be able to sell cocoa on the world market, if toxic chemicals are found in our cocoa beans.
As things stand, the youth are dying by drowning in galamsey pits. Many of the youth are stepping out of school to engage in galamsey. And most babies born in galamsey areas are deformed. Most seriously there are outbreaks of chemical-induced diseases which is having a great toll on health.
As things stand, Chinese and other nationals have violated our mineral and immigration laws and besieged our forest, to engage in galamsey. These foreigners do not bother about the devastation they are doing to our environment, something they will not dare to do in their home countries.
Today, some communities in Ghana have been taken over by the Chinese. A case in mind is Wassa Akropong, the capital of the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality in the Western Region, where Chinese are in full charge of trade and businesses with a filling station operating undera Chinese name.
In this town there is the Municipal Assembly and police station, yet the MCE and the police watch on while foreigners violate our laws.
At the rate at which the devastation of our environment is going on, with serious health implications, unless galamsey is completely banned, there will be no way responsible mining can be implemented. Galamsey must be completely stopped for the land and water bodies to be reclaimed. Then we can implement responsible mining that will not affect our water bodies and land. Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, must know this.
One other thing is, unemployment should not be the excuse for galamsey. With vast arable lands and abundant fresh clean waters, available in their communities, intensive food production can resolve unemployment. If lots of agriculture and aquaculture farms are in operation, factories could be put up to process the food harvested for local consumption and export. And there will be lots of employments available.
Were there cases of unemployment among the youth in the days gone by, when there was little or no galamsey? And to say that the ban on galamsey will affect the country’s economy is not grounded on facts. Galamsey is rather causing serious problems to our economy. Our poisoned water bodies, which are killing aquatic life and our poisoned lands which are not fit for agriculture, will negatively affect our economy. We will soon start importing staple foods that we could have grown here.
It will be another issue if the state is getting revenue from gold, mined under galamsey. Nothing comes from the illegal mines, as the Chinese and other foreigners freely smuggle kilos and kilos of gold to their countries. What Ghana rather gets in return, are poor environment, very sicked nationals, poor water supply, destruction of cocoa and oil palm farms and irresponsible citizens among others. Can this condition guarantee a vibrant and sound economy?
For a case study on irresponsible mining, Ogyeahoho Gyebi II, must take a look at El Salvador. There came a time when 90% of all its water bodies were highly polluted that clean water became more precious than gold. In 2017, under pressure from the Catholic Church and concern groups, all forms of mining were banned.
As President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II must rally all chiefs and support the Asantehene’s call on complete ban on illegal mining.
I will further suggest that instead of the formation of the committee to investigate and report on the galamsey situation, the president, as commander-in-chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, should commandeer all the troops to invade the forests and galamsey sites and arrest everyone engaged in this illegal mining. Those arrested, including foreigners must be made to work and reclaim the fields and water bodies.
To inspire the troops, the gold that is seized should be split into two, in which ever way and one portion given to the military personnel and the other portion, retained by the state. In the event that any military officer wants to sell his gold, he should sell it to the state.
Ghana has reached the stage where workings of a committee will delay actions, while the illegal miners continue the devastation of the environment. If anything, government should take a look at the reports by the Minerals and Forestry Commissions on illegal mining and revisit the Prof. Frimpong Boateng report, to take immediate action. The gestation period between commencement of work of a committee to submission of its findings and recommendation is too long. During this period, more harm will be done by galamsey.
We are in Election year and presidential candidates are out there soliciting for our votes. Each of them must be brought together to debate solely on galamsey and how they would resolve it if voted into power.
During the ban on mining, the state should take immediate steps to educate the youth on responsible mining, even if it means sending a few abroad to take courses insmall-scale mining. After the water bodies and land have been reclaimed and the ban on mining lifted, the state must encourage the formation of small-scale mining under new and strict laws and regulations in order to make mining very responsible.
All Catholics must disengage themselves from galamsey and encourage government to make sure that illegal mining is banned. Catholics have a universal document from Rome, the Laudato Si and every Catholic must abide by this encyclical which is a message from God about our obligation to take good care of our environment.
The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu is the only traditional leader who seems to be making efforts to stop galamsey. I will again suggest that all houses of chiefs in this country, led by Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II must complement what the Asantehene is doing.
Hon. Daniel Dugan
