Source: Mavis Sekyibea Addo

Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, the running mate to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for election 2024, has pledged that an NDC government would focus on teaching those engaged in galamsey [Illegal mining] to do their work in a way that does not pollute waters.

Speaking at an NDC event in Amenfi Central in the Western North Region last Saturday, Prof Opoku Agyemang accused the current government of failing to create employment opportunities for the youth, which, she argues, has left many young people in rural areas with no option but to turn to galamsey.

“In Amenfi and other towns like it, galamsey is rampant, causing serious harm to the environment. But what choice do the youth have when there are no jobs? They are forced to turn to illegal mining as their only option for survival,” she said.

“We know galamsey is happening here in Amenfi. Where are the galamseyers? She asked as the crowd responded.

“It’s not today we discovered gold in Ghana, and galamsey has been around for a long time. But if the government destroys the few jobs in town and doesn’t create new ones, what are the youth supposed to do?”

Professor Opoku Agyemang explained that her visit to the community was to bring “good news” and offer hope through practical solutions.

She emphasised the need for responsible mining practices, adding that where galamsey is practised without polluting water bodies, the NDC plans to step in to train the youth on how to mine sustainably, thereby safeguarding their health, the environment, and their future.

“The youth need jobs, and if galamsey is what they will continue to do, then they should be taught how to do it safely and without destroying their communities. We have come here with good intentions, to show a better way,” she added.

Meanwhile, Dr Ayew Afriyie, the New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Effiduase Asokore and Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, has stated that the government will not ban galamsey.

He argued that such a ban would be politically risky for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as many constituents in mining communities depend on the industry for their livelihoods.

“We won’t ban galamsey today or tomorrow, Dr Afriyie declared. He also blamed the worsening environmental damage on foreign nationals involved in illegal mining, accusing the opposition NDC of importing these individuals to advance their political agenda.

“The NDC saw that we [NPP] were winning the seats in the mining areas, so they decided to go and import foreigners to engage in illegal mining on our water bodies. The whole water bodies have not been a problem until now, it just started one month ago. It is someone behind that to force the NPP government to stop galamsey so that we will lose the seats. We won’t stop them [Galamseyers] today or tomorrow.”

He also criticised what he described as hypocritical media coverage, stating, “Is galamsey done in Accra? They should come to Kumasi to demonstrate against galamsey; like they will see,” he said.

Some civil society groups have called on the leaders of the two main political parties to take a clear stance against illegal mining to prove their commitment to tackling the menace should they win power at the polls in December.