The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who has been widely commended for his immense contribution to the fight against illegal mining, has taken his advocacy a notch higher, rallying the collective efforts of all stakeholders and professional groups to take action against the destruction caused by the menace.
The Asantehene, who was a guest at the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Conference held in Kumasi on Monday, September 9, 2024, called on the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), and the various professional groupings to stand firm in their resistance to illegal mining activities, as they threaten water bodies and forest reserves.
Already, the GBA, UTAG and the Ghana Medical Association as well as other health associations have collectively spoken against the canker and demanded urgent action against it.
For instance, all health associations have called for a halt in all forms of small-scale mining to allow a streamlining of the sector.
While commending the GBA President for taking a bold stance against Galamsey, he called on all others to join in the advocacy, stressing the threat posed by Galamsey to the environment and the failure of the legal system to respond accordingly.
“Galamsey is an environmental enemy for the nation. What could be more serious for any people than to have the entire water supply system at risk? So, I think as lawyers you should find space during this conference to set up a panel to undertake a quick tour of the communities where this call is most prevalent to see the extent of the crisis we face and hopefully deliberate on how the laws should respond.
“As I see it, if an individual poisoned the water supply of a community, he will be liable for severe consequences under the law. What does the law do when one pours mercury into the same water supply knowing fully well it can kill? This issue now requires the collective effort of all sections of society. To do nothing is no longer an option. The Bar Association, the medical association and the university should get together to deal with this emergency.”
The Asantehene said he was embarrassed by the pollution of the River Pra after he recently came into direct contact with it during his trip to Cape Coast.
“While I was going to Cape Coast, I stopped over the River Pra and what I saw was so embarrassing and then if as a nation we live for this to happen to us, we have to fight this no matter what.” Source: Myjoyonline.com
