The Bishop of Koforidua Diocese of the Catholic Church, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifa Agyekum, has expressed his anger over the continuous involvement of Chinese in illegal mining in Ghana, despite government’s assurance of fighting the menace.
The Man of God made reference to recent news reports that, over seventy acres of cocoa farms as well as water bodies at Adum Dominase in the Western Region are being destroyed by Chinese illegal miners who have invaded the community.
Most Rev. Afrifa Agyekum wondered why the country has stood so low allowing foreign nationals, especially Chinese, to invade the country to destroy cocoa farms, which serve as the backbone of the country’s economy and to pollute water bodies, threatening the health of the citizens.
“For me to hear that Chinese are involved in this. And I don’t fear to say this; to destroy my country, and then afterwards you leave here and go and enjoy the booty in your country. Ghana, we’ll have to sit up. We have to sit up. Why have we succumbed so low?
“If these people (Chinese/foreigners) are so powerful and more powerful than Ghanaians, then I don’t know where we are going. Is it the Visa that they have to come into this country to do galamsey, who gave them that resident permit, and what work are they doing? Is anybody controlling it?”
Rev Agyekum
The Catholic Bishop opined that the consequences of illegal mining is going to be more devastating, hence, persons clothed with powers to lead the fight must sit up to end the problem.
“Now to whoever, the powers that be, let us take this fight seriously, else the future is not good. Just yesterday somebody told me CSIR has also cautioned that our water bodies have become so dirty and not potable that the next couple of years we will have to import water into this country. How can we do that? I drive past Birim, like coffee and milk. And this is Ghana”
Rev Agyekum
The Man of God encouraged the general public to speak up and take decisive action to end the illegal mining menace.
“And we are all sitting down. We are all keeping quiet. We have to continue to talk. Galamsey is going to kill this country. The money that you will get today will deprive so many Ghanaians of a good livelihood. The politicians must listen to us. We voted for you, so work for us; Parliamentarians, chiefs, police and everybody.
“I am a Ghanaian, so I have a right to speak the way I am speaking. I have my passport I don’t need passport to live in Ghana so I am free you can’t take this thing (passport) from me. It is not good. We have to be worried about what is going on.”
Rev Agyekum
“Look at the amount of money that we get and look at the vast land that have been destroyed. I don’t know what to say again. Let us all sit up, let’s take action, else in the future, I don’t know where we are going to go. It saddens my heart, to be honest with you. I am 68 years that is why I am talking this way.
“I am older than some of the parliamentarians, older than some of the ministers and so I also have the right to speak the way I am speaking. And we will continue to harmer on this whether they listen to us or not. And I am happy the Asantehene is putting his weight behind it. Let us all come together and let’s fight this menace.”
Rev Agyekum
Ahanta Chiefs Demand Prosecution Of Galamsey Kingpin
Meanwhile, the Upper Dixcove Traditional Council on Saturday 21st January, 2023, arrested a ‘Galamsey Kingpin’ at Ahanta Banso with excavators in the Ahanta West Municipality.
The suspect was handed over to the police at Agona Nkwanta.
Reports say, the traditional leaders led by the Asafo Group will converge at the Police Station today, 23rd January, 2023 to register their concerns about the menace.
“We’ll register our displeasure against some high ranking Government appointees and party officials behind the act in front of the Agona Nkwanta Police Station, mainly to address concerns by the traditional council.”
Traditional Council
Illegal mining popularly known as galamsey, is rife in the Ahanta West enclave, destroying water bodies, forest and rubber plantations.
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