Editorial: Collaborative approach required to fight illegal mining

Critical concerns are being raised by representatives of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining with the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, regarding the fight against illegal mining commonly referred to as galamsey.

Demands include an investigation into politically affiliated mining companies, declaring a state of emergency for nine forest reserves impacted by illegal mining, addressing security threats posed by galamsey operations and probing how illegal miners acquire firearms.

Indeed, the fight against illegal mining has been undermined by the involvement of high-profile politicians. Therefore, holding these individuals accountable is essential for government to successfully combat illegal mining.

A member of the Coalition, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, proposed convening an urgent roundtable discussion on galamsey to address the root causes, deliberate on solutions and engage the public. Increasingly, it is becoming imperative for a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders to tackle the crisis effectively.

In response, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, outlined government’s response to combatting illegal mining – including ongoing engagements with key stakeholders, seizure of equipment, some arrests and reclamation of some forest reserves among others.

Government plans to decentralise the fight against galamsey by engaging Regional Security agency heads, District Chief Executives (DCEs), Regional Ministers, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology.

As we write, ‘galamsey’ has begun to devastate cashew farms in Bono Region – posing threats to the sustainability of cashew production and livelihoods of many farmers. Illegal miners have invaded key cashew production areas in Wenchi municipality and Banda district – with their activities causing significant destruction to cashew farms, water-bodies and agricultural lands.

Communities such as Branam, Amponsakrom and Atuna in the Wenchi municipality, alongside Bandaboase, Surubokrom, Nipanikrom and ‘Operator’ in the Banda district, are under siege.

Sources reveal that armed illegal miners threaten many farmers, prompting them to reluctantly lease their cashew farms for galamsey operations. Others surrender their farms voluntarily, hoping to raise much-needed funds to address pressing financial challenges.

This troubling trend underscores an urgent need to tackle the menace head on. It mirrors trends in cocoa-producing regions such as Ashanti, Eastern, Western-North and Western, contributing to the decline in Ghana’s cocoa production and endangering the industry’s sustainability.

The post Editorial: Collaborative approach required to fight illegal mining appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

Read Full Story