The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has demanded that prospecting and mining for gold and other minerals in forest reserves, farms, and rivers be immediately banned across the nation.
This appeal is in response to the worrying depletion of the nation’s natural resources brought on by illegal mining operations, which have wreaked havoc on the ecosystem on a large scale.
In order to counter the expanding threat, UTAG is pleading with the government to act quickly.
UTAG in a statement issued Monday, September 9, noted that “numerous scholars have described the state-led efforts to combat galamsey in the Fourth Republic as failed and corruption-infested militarised battles.”
“Given the current alarming state of illegal mining in the country, these critiques are difficult to dispute. UTAG is calling for a total ban on galamsey now.”
The Association said that if the current trajectory continued, Ghana may be forced to import water within six years.
“Cocoa productivity, once a cornerstone of our dear economy, has declined by 45% this year. Experts estimate that illegal mining costs the economy $2.3 billion annually. The Forestry Commission reports that over 2.5 million hectares of forest cover have been permanently destroyed. The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has identified a 35% rise in respiratory diseases in mining areas, and the alarming statistics continue.”
“This situation correlates very well with high levels of particulate matter and harmful chemical toxins such as mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, etc, found in water bodies, soils, and foods in these mining areas. While mining has been an integral part of our lives for a long time, these devastating developments are linked to the evil actions of greedy people involved in these activities whose quest for wealth is insatiable. Have we not already destroyed 50% of what our forefathers left us? The time for action is now. All forms of small-scale mining must be banned immediately,” it stated.
Because government-led programs like Operation Vanguard, Operation Flashout, and other state-led attempts had been utter failures, UTAG said that it had adopted a permanent stance against galamsey and will employ every constitutionally permissible weapon to ensure compliance.
“The data shows that small-scale mining has negatively affected Ghanaians and instead has evolved into a tool for economic empowerment for the political class, chieftaincy leaders, and the elite.
“It does not appear that the rigid and bold stands of some traditional leaders like the Asantehene, Otumfour Nana Osei-Tutu II, against this menace would yield the desired results with the carnage currently on the rise,” it stated.
In order to preserve the nation’s resources, the youth’s future, and create a sustainable development path, UTAG called for unity.
“We are calling on the Ghanaian people to support the call for a complete ban on mining in our forest reserves, farms, and water bodies. UTAG will join all labour unions in Ghana to act decisively to ensure that the right thing is done. If this is not done by the end of September 2024, we will embark on a nationwide industrial action.”
“We have taken this principled stand against galamsey because our lives depend on it. We shall not waive our demand for the complete and total ban of galamsey,” it stated.