The Technical Director of Wacam, Kwaku Afari, has added his voice to the growing calls for the government to halt issuing mining licences to companies operating in forest reserves.
This move, he said, will help protect Ghana’s environment and water bodies from the devastating consequences of mining activities.
He explained that the relentless granting of these licences has had devastating consequences, including environmental degradation and pollution of the country’s water bodies.
Various forms of mining, including small-scale, large-scale, and illegal mining (commonly referred to as galamsey), have contributed significantly to the pollution of our water bodies due to their surface mining operations,” he emphasised.
Afari, a lawyer, cautioned that blaming galamsey alone does not resolve the issue entirely.
I am not surprised that many of Ghana’s polluted water bodies contain heavy metals, including mercury, which were already impacting the health of Ghanaians.
According to him, Wacam has conducted researches which back the fact that “our water bodies have become toxic and unsafe! With heavy metals.
Against this backdrop, he advocated stricter enforcement of mining laws and regulations to curb irresponsible and illegal practices that continue to harm the environment.
Afari noted that for over a decade now, Wacam has relentlessly waged a campaign against irresponsible and illegal mining (galamsey), especially when the state allowed mining in forest reserves.
He was however, encouraged to see various civil society organisations (CSOs) and labour union groups join the fight against galamsey and irresponsible mining, urging the government to take action.
He stressed that this collective pressure was crucial in addressing the devastating environmental and social impacts of galamsey, which have left thousands of acres of land degraded and water bodies polluted.
The involvement of CSOs and labour unions adds momentum to the campaign, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions to balance economic development with environmental protection,” he stressed.