A Natural Resource and Governance Analyst, Richard Ellimah, has said that leaders of the country lack the political will to fight galamsey.
He is of the view that, illegal miners have encroached upon the country’s lands, consistently mining in untouched rivers, and ultimately polluting them.
Speaking at capacity building activity for selected journalists in Ashanti Region at Obuasi on overview of Research on Resettlement and Compensation in Mining Induced Communities in the country, Mr Ellimah questioned if “Ghana cannot have a robust fight on galamsey?”
The event which was organised by the Centre for Social Impact Studies (CESIS), was also attended by some community members in mining areas in Obuasi and other parts of the Ashanti Region.
They were educated on mining laws, Compensation and Resettlement, what the country has gained from mining and harm caused over the years.
He expressed worry about the inability to end galamsey in the country. “Do you think we don’t have the capability, or it is that the political will is not there?
“As I speak right now, a petition has been signed to stop mining on the Draw River in the country.
“If there is a political will, we can fight galamsey. Unless you are telling me that the galamsey operators are so well equipped they have more capabilities than even our regular miners, that we cannot do anything about it. I’m not convinced,” he stated.
He lauded the Asantehene’s initiative of fighting galamsey by destooling chiefs engaged in illegal mining.
He ended by calling on all to support the fight against illegal mining.
Read also:
By Benjamin Aidoo
The post Galamsey is thriving due to lack of political will – Governance expert first appeared on 3News.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS