Illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has become a major threat to Ghana’s natural environment, economic activity, and social life.
Despite its economic benefits, galamsey’s negative impacts far outweigh its advantages, necessitating urgent attention and action.
Ghana’s natural environment has suffered significantly due to galamsey.
Water pollution from chemicals used in mining has contaminated rivers, streams, and lakes, posing health risks to humans and aquatic life.
Accordingly, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, National General Secretary of the NDC, has expressed deep concern over the devastating impact of galamsey on Ghana’s environment.
He lamented that under the NPP administration, which promised to protect the country’s natural resources, Ghana’s rivers have become poisoned, forests have been stripped bare, and cocoa farms have been destroyed.
“To say that Akufo-Addo and Bawumia have failed us is an understatement. They vowed to end the scourge of galamsey, yet have become its chief enablers, standing idly by while illegal mining ravages the land. The very guardians of our environment have become complicit in its destruction”.
Fifi Fiavi Kwetey
Fifi Kwetey highlighted the far-reaching consequences of the government’s inaction, which has led to widespread environmental degradation and social upheaval.
The effects, the NDC stalwart indicated, are felt nationwide, with polluted water sources, eroded lands, displaced farmers, and vulnerable communities bearing the brunt of the government’s negligence.
He denounced the government’s inaction as a brazen betrayal of the trust Ghanaians have placed in it, with the consequences of this failure glaringly apparent.
Fifi Kwetey mournfully observed that the erstwhile noble endeavor to safeguard the nation’s essence has tragically degenerated into an unmitigated tale of greed and self-aggrandizement.
He further noted that this precipitous decline has unleashed a corrosive wave of corruption, systematically eroding the nation’s foundational pillars and threatening its very existence.
Akufo-Addo’s Government: A Legacy of Ruin
Furthermore, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey declared that the current NPP government’s tenure under Akufo-Addo has yielded a toxic legacy of destruction, deception, and decay.
This egregious track record, he stressed, will have far-reaching and devastating consequences for both the present population and future generations of Ghanaians.
“How much longer will this reckless assault on our heritage continue? How much more of our natural resources must be lost before we realize the true cost of their failure? Ghana deserves better. Ghana deserves leadership that cares, leaders who act with integrity and protect our land and its people”.
Fifi Fiavi Kwetey
Fifi Kwetey declared that it is imperative to bring an end to this destructive trajectory, clearly suggesting that a new leadership is needed to steer the country towards a better future.
Fifi Kwetey implored the public to place their trust in John Mahama, confident in his ability to provide genuine leadership and restore the nation’s lost glory.
He emphasized that Mahama is the leader who will tackle the galamsey menace with the gravity and seriousness it demands, bringing hope for a better future.
Accordingly, the NDC stalwart maintained that the fight against galamsey requires strong and effective leadership to succeed.
He asserted that good leaders play a crucial role in shaping the response to this environmental and social menace, and their leadership style can make or break the efforts to combat it.
As such, Fifi Kwetey urged Ghanaians to stand united for a Ghana that prioritizes protection, conservation, and progress, rejecting the path of destruction and devastation.
He poignantly declared that the fate of the nation teeters on the brink of collapse, imperiling the prospects of future generations.
To address these challenges, the government, communities, and stakeholders must collaborate to ensure sustainable and responsible mining practices.
This includes enforcing laws and regulations, providing alternative livelihoods for miners, and promoting environmental conservation.
By doing so, Ghana can mitigate the devastating effects of galamsey and ensure a prosperous future for its citizens.
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