The Deputy Director of Operations at the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operational Support (NAIMOS), Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Satekla, has issued a stark warning on the escalating galamsey crisis ravaging Ghana’s environment. In a recent account of his frontline efforts, Col. Satekla highlighted deep divisions within the media landscape. He noted that journalists often shift their stance based on political affiliations—becoming vocally aggressive and politicizing coverage when their preferred party holds power, only to fall silent otherwise. This partisan lens, he argued, undermines the unified national response needed to combat the illegal small-scale mining that poisons rivers and devastates forests.
Col. Satekla painted a grim picture of societal complicity fueling the galamsey menace. He observed that many young Ghanaians, driven by an insatiable desire for quick wealth, plunge into these destructive activities without regard for long-term consequences. Water bodies—vital lifelines for communities, agriculture, and drinking—lie choked with mercury-laden sludge as a result. Even more troubling, he condemned the involvement of older generations, labeling it outright “wickedness” that prioritizes personal gain over the nation’s future. “Why are we allowing this generational betrayal? he questioned, urging a cultural shift away from get rich quick mentalities.
A key frustration for the NAIMOS director centers on enforcement gaps. Col. Satekla demanded accountability, asking why operators brazenly working directly in water bodies face no prosecutions despite clear violations of environmental laws. He pointed to high-ranking individuals allegedly shielding these culprits, allowing impunity to flourish. This lack of swift justice, he warned, emboldens more participants and erodes public trust in institutions tasked with protection.
Shifting blame from partisan politics, Col. Satekla insisted the onus falls squarely on citizens themselves not just opposition figures from the NDC, NPP, or CPP, but everyday Ghanaians and elites profiting from the chaos. He implicated politicians across the spectrum in what he described as an overwhelming level of wickedness, calling for personal responsibility over finger-pointing. Galamsey is not a party problem; it’s a people problem, he emphasized, advocating for community-led vigilance alongside stronger security measures.
As NAIMOS intensifies operations, Col. Satekla’s revelations underscore the urgent need for media unity, prosecutorial rigor, and societal introspection to reclaim Ghana’s polluted landscapes. With water scarcity looming as a national security threat, his call challenges all stakeholders to rise above divisions and confront galamsey head-on before irreversible damage sets in.
Source: Ohemaa Adusi-Poku