Security expert, Colonel Festus Aboagye (Rtd), has expressed concerns about the long-term effectiveness of deploying the military to address the issue of illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey.
He highlighted a previous instance in 2018 and 2019 when the military was sent to galamsey hotspots but departed quickly, allowing illicit mining activities to reemerge.
“I think this is the laziest approach to combating any risk and threat to national security. The report is that some 19 chanfans and a certain number of heavy-duty pumping machines have been destroyed [but] where is the figure that over the eight years the state of Ghana has used intelligence to map out the galamsey environment to know how many people in which groups or which river bodies, in which forest reserves are operating?
“Without that benchmark, you cannot actually determine that. I8 chanfans in the first day are not anything to write home about because we don’t have the baseline against which we want to measure this”.
Colonel Festus Aboagye (Rtd)
Aboagye further questioned the government’s timeframe, expressing skepticism about what could realistically be accomplished within such a limited period.
He pointed out that, considering the government’s six-month timeframe for addressing the issue, it is crucial to establish clear political objectives for the Armed Forces.
Specifically, he questioned whether the plan included destroying 10 percent of the 50,000 Chanfans or 20 percent of the one million bulldozers (Caterpillars) involved in illegal mining.
Additionally, he emphasized the need for measurable targets, such as arresting a specific number of illegal miners within this period.
Colonel Aboagye expressed his bewilderment at the significant resources that the country has invested under the current government.
He noted that despite acquiring advanced technologies for monitoring political opponents, the state of Ghana has failed to allocate resources effectively to map the galamsey environment.
As a result, he believes the government should have been able to present a more comprehensive and effective plan to address this issue by now.
He stated that what the government currently has is not a genuine plan; rather, it is merely a political gimmick intended to buy time. “If the soldiers are going to be there, for how long?”
Consequently, Aboagye emphasized that the government must prioritize the sustainability of its efforts. “Are they going back as they did in 2018 and 2019 for the menace to surge?”
Eco-Conscious Citizens Advocate for Sustainable Solutions to Galamsey
Additionally, Eco-Conscious Citizens, an environmental advocacy group, urged the need for a more sustainable and long-term solution to tackle the issue of illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
The group contends that while the current measures are necessary, they are insufficient for achieving a permanent resolution to the problem.
Awula Serwah, the coordinator for Eco-Conscious Citizens, called on the government to declare a state of emergency in regions severely impacted by galamsey.
She emphasized that only drastic and coordinated actions will effectively combat illegal mining and mitigate its harmful environmental effects.
“You know, we go to some forest reserves, some machines are destroyed, and then what? They go right back afterward. So we want something that will be sustained. But I still think that the first step we need to take is to declare a state of emergency and then go to all our forest reserves, and then enlist the help of the community.
“If you know of any area where illegal miners are, let us know. This is the number to call, and we will go and deal with them. It doesn’t matter what political colors they wear. Unless we do something like that, and pause all small-scale mining, I don’t think we are good to get to the bottom of this matter”.
Awula Serwah
Awula Serwah further underscored the necessity of a holistic approach to resolving the crisis, pointing out that temporary crackdowns are inadequate for tackling the root causes of illegal mining.
She advocated for stricter enforcement of mining regulations, the provision of alternative livelihoods for miners, and enhanced community engagement to prevent a resurgence of illegal activities once the military withdraws.
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