Environmentalists and youth groups in Western and Western North regions have raised concern over the devastating impact of illegal mining otherwise known as “galamsey” in the two Regions.
A visit by Citi News on Saturday, April 13 showed that pollution of River Ankobra and other water bodies continues unabated, despite the governments’ recent pronouncement the River Pra was improving.
Addressing journalists at Bakanta in the Ellembelle District, an environmentalist and youth leadership expressed concern over the pervasive “galamsey” activities.
They emphasized that these activities are not just disrupting water bodies and the environment, but also posing a significant risk to the lives of the young population. The situation has escalated to the point where the armed “galamsayers” have become a menace to the community.
The Executive Director for the Ghana Environmental Advocacy Group, Elizabeth Allua Vaah, said the time to act is now as the unguarded destruction by “galamsey” is negatively impacting the people.
On the part of the youth, Mathias Nsia Cobbinah, a youth leader from Aowin in the Western North and the Youth Chief of the Nzemaland, Nana Kaku Anyimiah complained about the abetment by some state authorities in aiding “galamsey” and therefore threatened to take action if the situation continues.
They called on the government and traditional leaders to show genuine commitment to the “galamsey” fight.
“Unthinkable, it’s very unbearable, the destruction of our lands and water bodies. We can no longer bear this, why? Why is this “galamsey” killing us? The government is behind this…How much “galamsey” money do they use to develop Nzema? Since those chiefs, galamseyers, MPs and Chinese people, since they have planned, made a calculated plan to kill us, we will kill them before they kill us.”
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