Galamsey: National Security says it is working to mitigate havoc caused on the environment

The Director of Intelligence Analysis at the Ministry of National Security Dr Victoria Sam has assured that steps have been taken to to mitigate the impact of illegal small-scale mining (Galamsey) on the environment.

She noted that one of the critical challenges facing the Ministry and the entire country is the issue of galamsey.

Speaking at the West Africa Mining Security Conference organised by the Australian High Commission in Ghana, “One of Ghana’s critical challenges is illegal mining, or galamsey and it poses a severe threat to the sustainability of our natural resources and the livelihood of our citizens.

“In response, the National Security Minister is chairing a five-member committee which is diligently working with local communities, traditional authorities, and industry experts to mitigate the havoc caused on our environment.”

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had appointed the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, as the chairman of the committee an adhoc ministerial committee to engage stakeholders on Galamsey.

This was announced by Information Minister Fatimatu Abubakar in a notice on Friday, September 13.

 

This came at a time when pressure mounted on the government to ban galamsey.

For instance, the National Executive and the entire membership of the Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) added its voice to the call on the government by Organized Labour and other civil society organizations for the immediate ban on Galamsey, stating that as a union of traders in the country with interest in driving economic development and sustainability in Ghana, they felt it a duty as well as a shared responsibility to also ensure that the natural resources of the country are judiciously used and preserved for future generations to also benefit.

From the recent discourse that has taken over the media landscape, GUTA said, it is a very clear indication that enough is enough for galamsay in this country.

Although small scale mining has been going on for decades, it is now apparently clear that the country has come to a tipping point. The influx of foreign entities, especially, the Chinese with their heavy machinery have degraded the sector for the worse, a statement issued said.

“We are of the strong view that if nothing is done urgently about the situation, the country may not be able to recover from the devastating effect of illegal mining. In this regard, GUTA calls on the President of the Republic to declare a state of emergency on the matter as soon as possible to ensure that every resource is given the needed attention and direct the fight for complete eradication of the scourge.

“It is our fervent hope that the President would heed to the numerous calls and act decisively to end the menace before his tenure of office ends which would be a great legacy for him,” GUTA said in a statement.

Below is the full list.

The five-member committee is led by the

1. National Security Minister, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah

Other members of the committee are:

2. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor

3. Minister for Defense, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul

4. Minister for Employment, Labour Relations

 

 

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