Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, has raised alarm over the scale of destruction caused by galamsey, likening it to “chemical warfare on an unprecedented scale.”
In a strongly worded LinkedIn post, Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings expressed her deep concerns about the irreparable harm that galamsey is inflicting on the nation’s natural resources, public health, and governance.
The ecological destruction caused by galamsey has left Ghana’s water bodies and forests in a perilous state.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings described her horror at the sight of severely polluted rivers and decimated forest landscapes, warning that the full extent of the damage has yet to be realized.
“What we are seeing is the tip of the iceberg,” she said, lamenting the immediate impact on Ghana’s environment, which has been worsened by weak enforcement of environmental laws.
Illegal miners, in their search for gold, use toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide, which pollute rivers, underground water sources, and soil. This contamination threatens both the environment and human lives.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings suggested that if the Ghana Standards Authority were to test the country’s water bodies, the true levels of toxic pollution would shock the nation. “That includes borehole water!” she added, stressing that galamsey has created a wide-reaching environmental catastrophe.
The health implications of the environmental contamination from illegal mining are severe. Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings highlighted the increasing reports of kidney failure, cancers, birth defects, and infant mortality as a direct result of toxins seeping into the country’s water systems.
“Are we waiting for famine in the midst of poisoned plenty before we realise the urgency with which we must address this?” she asked, suggesting that the country may be on the brink of an irreversible disaster. Water shortages are already affecting some parts of the country, and the contamination of remaining water sources could lead to widespread famine if left unchecked.
Beyond the environmental and health consequences, Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings framed galamsey as a pressing national security threat. According to her, the illegal mining crisis has escalated into a full-blown emergency that jeopardizes Ghana’s social stability.
“We cannot allow people to lose so much confidence in the State that we end up with a vacuum that breeds vigilantes who start to become crusaders for the protection of the environment and people.”
Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle
Call for Immediate Action
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings made an impassioned plea for immediate and sustained action to combat galamsey. She stressed that the government must act quickly and decisively to prevent further environmental degradation and public health disasters.
“It is time to act!” she declared, warning that using the crisis as a political tool for votes would be a grave mistake. Instead, she called for a unified, non-partisan effort to protect the environment and safeguard the future of Ghana’s citizens.
Her call to action was clear: the government must rise above political distractions and put the interests of the country first. “For goodness’ sake, this is not to be used as a populist propaganda campaign for votes,” she cautioned.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings’ words served as a powerful reminder that the galamsey crisis transcends politics and poses an existential threat to Ghana’s environment, public health, and governance.
Her critique extended to the executive branch and law enforcement agencies, both of which have been ineffective in curbing the illegal mining trade. “Of what use are all the powers vested in the executive branch if not for a time such as this?” Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings asked, urging the government to use its authority to enforce environmental protection laws and hold those responsible for illegal mining accountable.
“For once, the right thing must be done in the interest of the present and future of the people and country we love so much!” She emphasized that it is the responsibility of every Ghanaian, including those in positions of power, to protect the nation’s natural resources and public health.
Whether the state will respond with the urgency required remains to be seen, but the warning from Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings is clear: if Ghana does not act soon, the consequences could be catastrophic.
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