The escalating ‘galamsey’ crisis in Ghana: An urgent call for ban justified?

The illegal mining crisis in galamsey-infested Ghana is one that has been fought on a level so fierce yet not enough combat was configured.

What started as a local problem has blown up to become an environmental catastrophe, threatening the health of the population and blaming authorities for committing corruption. The calls for a total ban on galamsey are becoming more and more evident, the time to act in full force cannot even be postponed.

The galamsey menace has actually escalated in spite of the many years and frequent campaigns to clamp down on illegal mining operations. It used to be a local issue, now it has spread to cover large belts of our country. Trees are felled, rivers polluted by mercury and the land is littered with vast pit mines.

Numerous nongovernmental organizations have put all of this in writing, but their warnings were not followed by adequate intervention. For many Ghanaians, the damage is no longer a vague worry, it affects their lives every day.

The intensity of the galamsey menace have resulted in various corruption and complicity allegations against officials. There are reports, which could not be immediately confirmed that some officials were taking cuts and turning a blind eye towards illegal mining operations.

Such a worrying development, which excites public confidence and entrain the systemic flaws that hamper efforts to fight galamsey. When the enforcers of law are implicated, it makes for an impossible task to deal with the crisis.

The consequences of galamsey are devastating to health. Close at hand to mining regions, communities are being ravaged by mercury-induced ailments including neurological disorders, kidney damage and respiratory problems.

The World Health Organization (WHO) itself and local health authorities have warned against the increasing number of diseases, but nothing seems to be done properly. The number of people falling sick is nearly impossible to count, and the healthcare systems in those areas are generally unable to cope with such serious health crisis which only magnifies the problem further for already distressed populations.

Labour unions as well as some CSOs are now demanding an outright ban on galamsey. Only a total ban will end the environmental destruction and public health crisis that illegal mining has fanned, they say.

Their demands mirror a broader convergence in opinion that piecemeal fixes and regulatory policy nudges have not gotten to the heart of the issue. These groups emphasize that the present approach is deficient, and to protect people as well as the environment, a more drastic solution is required.

The Way Forward: What Must Happen Next?

1. Our government must place a complete ban on all galamsey activities. It should be enforced with a zero-tolerance policy and supported by funding for law enforcement. Without proper regulation, and clean up, some temporary moratorium may be necessary.
2. Establish transparent enforcement and accountability mechanisms to regain public trust, ensuring that violators of the law are held accountable.
3. Immediate investments are required for healthcare infrastructure and support services to impacted communities due to galamsey. This involves enhancing health facilities, treating mercury-induced diseases and launching awareness for preventive measures of negative consequences.
4. Efforts to address galamsey must be a shared responsibility among the government, environmental organizations and civil society, as well as local communities. Collaborative ways would make sure that no perspective is left out and the solution could be implemented in a proper way.

Ghana is at a crucial point in the battle against galamsey. This is a rapidly developing situation, and in light of the gravity and scale of corruption, concerning public health no less! These are not simply the screams of hopelessness but to address an extremely dire situation. In the absence of a collective, bold response to these challenges, it will put Ghana’s environment at risk and its public health system on edge.

 

By Deborah Mensah

 

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