Richard Kofi Afenu, the former Director of the Minerals Commission, has criticized the government’s approach to tackling illegal mining (galamsey) in Ghana.
He emphasized that the government’s lack of commitment and failed policies are the reasons behind the country’s current struggles in addressing the issue.
Afenu pointed out that the fight against galamsey should have begun in 2017 when the New Patriotic Party (NPP), led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, took office, if the government had been genuinely committed to solving the problem.
According to Afenu, in 2017, there was a framework in place for artisanal and small-scale mining, developed through extensive stakeholder consultations across the country. This framework aimed to regulate and formalize the small-scale mining sector.
He argued that if the government had implemented and enforced this framework, the current situation with illegal mining might have been avoided.
Afenu further stressed that the rising pollution levels in Ghana’s water bodies, mainly due to illegal mining, should serve as a wake-up call for the government to take immediate and serious action.
His remarks came just days before the planned strike by organized labor, which has urged the government to temporarily ban small-scale mining to eliminate illegal operators from the system.
The strike, set to take place in three days, highlights the concerns of organized labor about the environmental and economic damage caused by galamsey.
They are calling on the government to take firm action, including temporarily halting small-scale mining activities to properly address the illegal operations and protect the country’s natural resources.
Story by: Onokwafo Yaw Asiedu/Ahotoronline
@onokwafoasiedu
