KEY POINTS
- President Akufo-Addo forms a five-member committee to combat illegal mining.
- The team will review current anti-galamsey measures and recommend improvements.
- Environmental damage and law enforcement challenges are major focuses.
President Nana Akufo Addo has led a new war against the growing problem of galamsey by assembling a five-member ministerial ad-hoc committee.
This group will assess the government’s continuous crusade against galamsey, analyzing the current strategies used in the fight against the devastating effects of illegal mining in Ghana.
The formation of this committee is a significant part of the government’s long-term plan to try to preserve the nation’s natural resources for the future. The effects of galamsey on the mineral resources in Ghana has led to very disastrous effects on the water bodies and the forest. Thus, causing health hazards and future water scarcity.
Who’s leading the charge?
Chaired by National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah, the committee includes several other top government officials, including the Minister for Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor; the Defense Minister, Dominic Nitiwul; the Employment Minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah; and the Information Minister, Fatima Abubakar.
Their role is to scrutinise the current policies and analyse their effectiveness while also suggesting changes for improvement where relevant.
Among the challenges the committee is likely to address is the challenge faced by the police and other security agencies in dealing with the issue of illegal mining. Although there is legislation that seeks to forbid galamsey, many miners are still conducting their operations, resulting in more havoc to the environment.
The committee analysis and conclusion will assist the government to change the strategy so as to bring about more desirable outcomes.
A history of challenges
According to MyJoyOnline, this is not the first time such move is being taken by the government. A similar task force headed by the former Environment Minister Hon. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng also tried to tackle the issue of galamsey but was compounded with lots of controversies that led to the resignation of Boateng from his position.
The lack of success of that attempt has made many Ghanaians lose faith in the governments crusade against galamsey. But given the pressure from the public and the continuous degradation of the environment, this new formation of the committee is seen as a new approach at ending the menace of galamsey.
The success or failure of this committee dtermines the future of the Ghanaian environment and the health of people, making this fight even more necessary.
