By Jesse Ampah Owusu
Accra. Nov. 6, GNA – Osabarima Owusu Beyeeman, the Chief of Akyem-Muoso, has called for tools and equipment bought for illegal mining (Galamsey) activities to be redirected towards enhancing agriculture in the country.
He urged financiers of Galamsey to invest in equipment that would support and improve farming, rather than contributing to illegal mining that harms the environment.
Osabarima Beyeeman made this call during the launch of a book on environmental protection by Colonel Richard Danso Nimako, titled “Africa’s Environment in Peril: A Glimpse at Ghana’s Efforts at Reclamation”, at Burma Camp in Accra.
He emphasized that farming is a more productive and profitable venture that could create sustainable jobs while also protecting the environment and natural resources.
Osabarima Beyeeman stressed the need for a collaborative effort from all stakeholders in addressing the issue of illegal mining, describing Galamsey as a complex problem that requires a unified response.
He also urged the country’s leadership to take bold action in implementing initiatives and strategies aimed at tackling the issue, ensuring the protection of the environment for future generations.
“We should all eschew any fear of being intimidated in fighting this canker. Let us all have a good and positive mindset of changing our attitudes from deliberately destroying our environment to safeguarding it for future generations yet unborn,” he added.
Col. Nimako explained that the growing environmental degradation in the country inspired him to author the book.
He aimed to raise awareness and educate the public on the urgent need to protect the environment and natural resources.
“Whatever the case may be, one of the ways to conserve what remains of our heritage is through constant education and continuous reminders of our responsibility to the earth and its contents.
“This book is my little contribution to the learning process. We can do better than we have been doing so far to reclaim and preserve the environment for our survival and all other living things so that life will continue,” he added.
The 263-page book addresses Africa’s environmental challenges and conservation efforts, exploring its historical significance, implications, and the ways to overcome these issues.
Col. Nimako, a serving Senior Officer in the Ghana Armed Forces and an award-winning author, has also written Steps for the Progress of the Black Race (Guides for Blackman’s Redemption), a 288-page book on Black people’s affairs.
Published by Advent Press in Accra in 2021, the book won first prize in the Creative Non-Fiction Category at the 6th Ghana Association of Writers Literary Awards.
Nimako is passionate about the idea of Africans telling their own stories through writing.
He believes this practice is crucial for preserving authenticity and ensuring that these narratives endure for future generations.
He also believes that documenting their history will help teach future generations the true stories of their ancestors, inspiring them to build upon the foundation they have inherited.
GNA