By Naa Shormei Odonkor
Kumasi, Nov. 19, GNA – Mr Daniel Dotse, Co-founder of Lead for Ghana (LFG), has stressed the need for a collective approach to address the illegal mining issue, commonly known as “galamsey” in Ghana.
Collective efforts by all citizens will help mitigate the long-term effects that illegal mining will have on the environment and the health of the people.
Mr Dotse, speaking at an environmental summit, organised by the LFG Leadership Network, noted that it was time for all Ghanaians to join forces to fight against the galamsey menace in the country.
The summit, which was under the theme, “Building a Sustainable Future, Collaborative Solutions to Galamsey Menace in Ghana”, recorded the attendance of energy and environmental policy analysts, an educator and youth analysts as well as an environmental journalist.
Mr Dotse pointed out that “creating a sustainable future is not a sole journey but one, we must embark on together by coming together as government bodies, local communities, businesses and environmental advocates to put an end to the galamsey menace,”
He stressed the need to strengthen the local economy, promote ethical mining, enforce mining regulations and educate community members on the need for sustainable methods of mining.
Mr Dotse further called for a stronger and powerful voice in the media to persistently advocate against illegal mining and its negative effects in the country.
“This mission requires courage, commitment and collaboration to build a Ghana where every child inherits clean rivers, fertile land and endless opportunities,” he stressed.
Mr. Erastus Asare Donkor, investigative and environmental journalist at the Multimedia Group of Companies, said Ghana was losing most of its forest reserves and major river bodies to galamsey.
He noted that the Forestry Commission had hinted that, about half of the Apamprama Forest Reserve had been destroyed by illegal mining activities.
According to him, it would take Ghana billions of dollars to reclaim some of the forest reserves, such as the Upper Wassa Forest Reserve, Tano-Anwia Forest Reserve, Atiwa Forest Reserve, Krokosua Forest Reserve and others destroyed by galamsey.
Additionally, Mr. Donkor observed that, small-scale miners had been allowed to mine in and closer to major river bodies and released poisonous mining residues into the rivers.
These, he discovered during his quest to unravel the galamsey menace in the country.
He listed the Ankobra, Anuru, Asenanyo, Ashire, Ayensuano, Bia, Birim, Bonsa, Butre, Densu, Oda, Ofin, Pra, Subri and Tano Rivers, as some of the rivers he found to be polluted by illegal mining, hence, conducted laboratory tests on them in 2022.
Mr. Donkor disclosed that the tests signified that the rivers contained high levels of Cadmium, Lead, Chromium and Arsenic chemicals against the World Health Organization, United States and Ghana Standards of drinking water.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) acceptable standard for Arsenic is 0.005mg/l and Ghana pegs at 0.10mg/l.
However, Oda, Birim, Ankobra, Pra and Ofin rivers registered between 0.216mg/l and 0.444mg/l.
Also, they recorded high levels of Lead residue between 0.057mg/l and 0.208mg/l against the United States and Ghana acceptable level of 0.015mg/l and 0.010mg/l,” he noted.
Mr Donkor mentioned that the Water Research Institute, Environmental Chemistry Division, in the year 2022, conducted the same lab tests on the Ankobra and Pra rivers and found 0.015miligrams per litre (mg/l) and 0.011mg/l of Mercury residue in the rivers, respectively.
The results, he stated were above the WHO drinking water and Ghana’s acceptable standard (GS175) for the presence of 0.001mg/l level of Mercury in drinking water.
Questioning the ability of the Ghana Water Company to provide safe tap water for citizens after pumping water from the galamsey polluted rivers, he highlighted the risk citizens stood in consuming the tap water.
Mr. Donkor said though galamsey employed over one million people and contributed to 40 per cent of gold produced in Ghana, the effect on the environment and the health of citizens was greater.
According to him, many of the workforce of the country who engaged in galamsey were suffering from a disease called Silicosis and were on oxygen at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, battling with their lives.
Silicosis is a long-term lung disease caused by inhaling large amounts of crystalline silica dust found in certain stones, rocks, sand and clay.
Mr Donkor said as the nation waited for the president to address the menace of illegal mining and poor mining activities in the country, traditional leaders who served as gatekeepers of their communities must ensure that they protected their land.
He applauded the traditional leaders of Mampong for banning mining in their land to protect the lives of residents and preserve their natural resources for future generations.
Mr. Donkor urged environmental protection advocates to address the effects of galamsey in a language that the indigenous people of the country would understand and appreciate to achieve the desired goals.
GNA