A Political Analyst and lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, Jonathan Asante Otchere says, the menace of illegal mining popularly known as galamsey is a serious crisis beyond COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine crisis which is being projected to be the cause of our economic breakdown
In an interview on Simpieso, a political talk show hosted by Emmanuel Martey, Alaska De Don aired on Ahotor 92.3 FM, Accra, he stated, the effect of galamsey will go a long way to have a negative effect on Ghanaians especially the poor
He explained, “if it happens that we are to import water, it is the poor who will suffer because water will become an expensive product. And in any part of the world where water becomes an expensive product then we are bound for hell”
Mr Otchere attributed our failure against the fight of illegal mining to incompetent leadership
“… we have allowed this people to destroy our water bodies, degrading it to the level that is undescribable, I think that it only tells something…. ‘failure in leadership’. We have a bunch of incompetent leaders who do not help us in any way”
“if we allow soldiers to be protecting galamseyers, what kind of country are we building? My goodness!… I don’t really know the sin we have committed against our current president for them to lead us into such a huge ditch, since we are doing the same thing we are going to get same results unless there is change in leadership, outright change in leadership “ he added
He reiterated, “this crisis is far beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and far far beyond the exaggerated Russia-Ukraine crisis, if we are not careful we will never be able to recover the kind of damage and destruction this will cause”
“…we have a minority of people who are holding this country to ransom, building themselves wanting to become state controllers and the power brokers in the near future, disregarding all the complain that people are churning out there”
“If they are not careful, whatever they are amassing today will be lost tomorrow”
The issue of galamsey has become a national concern since it’s effects on our lands, water bodies and forests are glare. It appears like the government is losing the fight against the menace and has become necessary for all stakeholders and Ghanaians to join in fighting the canker
Story by Nana Ama Nyamekye/Ahotoronline
