By Edward Dankwah
Accra, Nov. 28, GNA – Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, says the issue of “Galamsey” has evolved from a matter of livelihood to one driven by excessive greed.
He said these issues were driven not just by livelihoods, but by the unchecked wealth generated from it, such that individuals involved were often making substantial, unaccounted-for incomes, without obligations such as reclamation or taxes.
Dr. Ashigbey was speaking at a forum titled, “Unpacking Galamsey: Uncovering ‘treasures’ in Responsible Mining,” organised by Academic City University in Accra.
“The real challenge lies not with those in the communities earning modest amounts, but with the individuals profiting millions from illegal mining activities so, addressing the problem requires tackling this disproportionate wealth and the lack of accountability,” he added.
He said the disparity between the UAE’s reported $7 billion in imports from Ghana and the $2 billion in exports from Ghana highlighted a significant issue, such that much of this value was funneled into the pockets of individuals.
He added that there was the need to confront greed and ensure severe punishments to deter illegal activities, while providing alternative resources for those who needed it for livelihoods.
Dr. Ashigbey said the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey had recently sent a letter to the Presidential Candidates, inviting them to sign a pact committing to the fight against illegal mining activities.
He said enforcement and regulations were critical to addressing this issue, and that it was vital that the next President, regardless of political party, continued the fight against illegal mining.
“The State of emergency was not declared, and Galamsey continues to damage water bodies, additionally, the Legislative Instrument has not been enforced and it is crucial that both the NDC and NPP Presidential Candidates commit to addressing these challenges and prioritize action to resolve them,” he said.
He said it was important that all political parties engage with us and the media, not only by signing the commitment but also by taking concrete actions to resolve the issue.
Dr. Ashigbey said due to the busy schedules of the political parties, the pacts have been sent to them virtually for signing, and that once signed, copies would be made available to the public, enabling citizens to hold them accountable should they fail to uphold their commitments.
Dr. Lucy Agyepong, Vice-President, Institutional Advancements at the University said the Institute was dedicated to shaping future-ready leaders.
She said at Academic City, they pride themselves on being a solution-oriented institution, empowering individuals to develop innovative responses even during their time in school to the challenges facing the Ghanaian community.
Dr. Agyepong said technology played a critical component in developing innovative solutions, and that they ensured that all their students, regardless of their academic background, engaged in technological courses to help in that regard.
“This includes programming, equipping them with the skills necessary to excel in the future world of work,” she added.
She said Galamsey was a highly complex issue, such that while it may appear straightforward at first glance, a deeper analysis revealed its intricacies.
Dr. Agyepong said it was deeply rooted in longstanding practices, involved a significant number of people, and had a far-reaching impact on livelihoods and communities.
She said addressing Galamsey required a multifaceted approach, for which reason it was essential to bring together diverse skill sets, backgrounds, and knowledge to collaboratively understand the issue and define roles in addressing it.
Dr. Agyepong said mining held immense potential with numerous hidden treasures beneath the surface, provided it was conducted responsibly.
GNA