Professor William Ohemeng, the former Head of the Department of Economic and Applied Mathematics and School of Sciences, has voiced serious concerns about the government’s recent budget in relation to its fight against galamsey, the illegal small-scale mining that has severely impacted Ghana’s environment and economy. According to Prof. Ohemeng, the government’s approach appears contradictory and lacks coherence, which undermines efforts to effectively curb the menace.
The professor pointed out that the budget allocates specific funds aimed at combating galamsey. This shows a clear intent by the government to address the destructive mining activities. However, he highlights a deeper inconsistency: the revenue projections for the budget rely heavily on gold. This gold revenue is primarily generated through institutions like GOLDBOD and from small-scale gold exports, many of which are intertwined with galamsey operations. Essentially, while there is a declared effort to stop illegal mining, the government’s financial plans still depend heavily on income linked to the very activity it seeks to eradicate.
Prof. Ohemeng emphasized that this duality weakens the overall strategy to fight galamsey. If the government continues to rely on gold revenues derived, at least in part, from illegal mining activities, it sends mixed signals internally and externally. Such dependence could diminish the urgency and seriousness of enforcement measures, as cutting down galamsey too rapidly might reduce the critical revenue streams the budget depends upon. This raises questions about the sustainability and effectiveness of the fight against illegal mining within the current fiscal framework.
The former academic calls for a more integrated and realistic approach. The government must align its fiscal strategies with its environmental and regulatory objectives to eliminate any contradictory stances. Committing funds to combat galamsey is important, but equally critical is reducing reliance on revenues that indirectly support or benefit from illegal mining activities. Without this alignment, the battle against galamsey risks being symbolic rather than substantive, potentially allowing the problem to persist despite budgetary commitments.
Source: Ohemaa Adusi-Poku
