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A typical galamsey site
A typical galamsey site

Galamsey- an illegality threatening to derail Ghana’s prosperity

There is a belief by several experts that in the near future, water will become a commodity just like gold and oil. In fact, some of the experts say wars will be fought over who owns the water supply. Presently, a third of humans have minimal access to clean and fresh water.

The number is expected to increase by up to two-thirds by 2050. Over-population, demand and pollution from industry are to blame. Elsewhere, particularly in the State of Qatar, there are no rivers and streams and the people depend on desalinated water, whose production comes at a huge cost due to the copious amount of energy required.

Selfishness and beyond reasonable greed situation

These staggering statistics and news have sparked a foreboding crescendo of fear in Ghana. In the quest of a few selfish and greedy individuals, both in high and low places in Ghana, to quickly get rich at the expense of our beautiful country and its people, they have forgotten that water is life. The pertinent question is, how can we look on sheepishly while our water bodies and ecosystems are being destroyed with reckless abandon?

Last year, we read about the action and concern raised by some personalities in our society such as the Paramount Chief of Dormaa Ahenkro, Nana Agyemang Badu; the CEO of the Minerals Commission, Dr Toni Aubynn, and some officials of the Ghana Water Company raising red flags about the wanton destruction of our land, farms and more important, water bodies by a few individuallym including some Chinese and other foreigners. You tell me what human activity does not require clean water and I will tell you how powerless we have become. Or is it sheer cowardice or inertia?

The uniqueness of water makes it a commodity that must be fiercely protected. While we need more water treatment plants to purify our water for drinking, washing and cleaning, we may very soon wake up to see that there is no more water. Unfortunately,  we have recently heard that some water treatment plants have been or are being shut down due to the degree to which the water to be treated has been polluted and its dearth thereof.

The drying of the Tano River should be a wake-up call to Ghanaians! What is being discussed here has an impact on every Ghanaian, no matter his or her disposition, creed, faith, position in society or vocation. We must be gladdened by the three-week ultimatum given by the minister of Lands and Natural Resources to the galamseyers to stop their nefarious and nation-wrecking activities or face the long arm of the law. Why? Various studies have indicated unambiguously that galamsey is more of a cost than a benefit. As a nation, have we allowed ‘galamseyers’ to press the self-destruct button?

Galamsey, an illegal mining operation, which simply means “gather them and sell” is wreaking so much havoc that it is unbelievable that nothing serious appears to be done to curb its spread. Various people, including some ministers of the former President Mahama regime, said the lack of political will was the ultimate barrier that negated a crackdown on galamsey.

Some of the adverse impacts of galamsey are contamination of our water bodies with mercury and cyanide which have serious health impacts, danger posed to people who could fall into the pits, breeding of mosquitoes, damage to riverine fishing and the possibility of birth defects in the long run. The hydra-headed socio-economic malaise confronting us is self-inflicted.

Simply put, natural resource accounting tells us that galamsey, an illegality, bodes more ill for Ghana. Are we as a people bad keepers and managers of what God has given us? What have we done to our tilapia fishing industry? We appear to have decimated that industry with the unbridled use of dangerous chemicals, undersized fishing nets and unorthodox fishing practices.

Geographically, a major gold reef in Ghana stretches diagonally from the south-western part to the north-eastern part of the country. Another gold reef runs from the south-western part of the country to the eastern part of the country (around Kibi and is environs). The latter is virtually parallel to the coastline. Most of the major rivers and streams in the country have been turned from being crystal clear and potable to brown and with heavy pollution.

The very natural resource which nature has endowed us with has become our undoing. Why? Our water bodies and underground water systems are being systematically poisoned with mercury and cyanide. The adverse impact is not only affecting the present generation but will have dire consequences on future generations as well.

While admitting that galamsey has been with us for a long time, it is within the last few years that it has threatened our very existence due to the significant injection of resources, including heavy plant and machinery mainly from China and significant support from people in high places, including faceless and rich financiers. The chain of the wanton destruction is ably aided by a cartel of chiefs, security personnel, immigration officers, politicians, Chinese, Indians and other foreign nationals, those who acquire gold-bearing lands and later sell them in blocks to the galamseyers and the support provided by certain service providers.

While trying to promote eco-tourism, our efforts are being negated by the action of the galamseyers who are turning our country into a wasteland. All over the world, countries protect their God-given resources with zeal and pride. However, we have opened ours to unbridled abuse and pillage by foreigners and a number of greedy people in our midst.

Future generations will not forgive us for not protecting their share of the largesse that the Lord God Almighty has blessed us with. It is almost like sleeping while an intruder is busily stealing and destroying your resources. Recently, we heard arguments that galamsey was a local problem. Really? Even if this were to be true, is the so-called ‘local’ not part of Ghana? Let’s tackle it head on and avoid shifting the goal posts. A firm plan needs to be crafted to tackle this canker. More grease to the elbows of Mr Peter Amewu, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, who is keen to face the dragon head-on.

Sustainable Development Goals

Our quest to implement an action plan to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be rendered futile if we fail to eradicate or reduce the burden of galamsey to the barest minimum. Research has shown that the gold obtained from the galamsey operations end in foreign markets, with foreigners taking a lion share of the revenue generated.

If we are to move away from rain-fed agricultural practices to a sustainable irrigation scheme, we need our water bodies, while also harvesting rain water efficiently. The perennial opening of the Bagri Dam elsewhere need not be a problem anymore. What about constructing underground storage tanks to keep some of the water for purposes of irrigation? With flight pumps, we could throw some of the stored water onto our fields to aid commercial and perennial farming.

Importation of Water and Desalinating Seawater

If we do not learn to protect and use our water resources efficiently, we may have to import water into Ghana, which will be a logistical nightmare. What about desalinating seawater? We have already gone into that, and considering the quantum of energy required for that operation, it appears an imprudent option. Desalination of seawater is done mainly in countries with virtually no rivers and streams, particularly in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries. As an energy-stressed country, is that the route we want to pursue?

This is food for thought. We need to wake up from our slumber and smell the roses, while taking the bull by the horns. Postponing action to nip galamsey in the bud has dire consequences for the peace and tranquility of our beloved country; with apologies to Alan Paton. I am afraid to say that all the grandiose development plans we have mapped as a nation may not materialise if we do not have abundant potable water. Posterity will not forgive us if we fail to act now! The silent majority need to be vocal now!

 

 

The writer is  the Chief Consultant at EnerWise Africa.  E-mail:  [email protected]

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