I have always maintained that the current worrying state of galamsey operations in Ghana is no more the usual ‘traditional galamsey’ (TG) we knew but rather ‘high-tech galamsey’ (HTG) under President Akufo-Addo now.

It is factual that traditional galamsey phenomenon has been with us since pre-colonial times in Ghana and serves as a livelihood practice for those who live in mineral-rich areas of the country and never gotten to this worst stage of destruction we are witnessing right now under this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime.

Instead of intensifying the blame where it should be, people (e.g. CSOs, etc.) are not directly pointing their fingers at Akufo-Addo for failing to contain this frightening HTG phenomenon. Akufo-Addo is singularly responsible for the prevailing HTG menace in Ghana for the following reasons.

Insincerity and ineffectiveness

As soon as Nana Akufo-Addo resumed office in 2017, the practice of TG metamorphosized into HTG leading to increased invasion of our forest reserves and ‘browning’ of our major river bodies in mining regions of the country.

Considering the seriousness of this land use practice, the Media Coalition Against Galamsey led by Dr. Kenneth Ashigbeh advocated for moderation and sustainable solution to the threatening HTG phenomenon in the country.

This public pressure led to President Akufo-Addo saying that he has put his ‘Presidency on the line on this matter’ before the 2020 general elections. An Inter-Ministerial Committee on Galamsey (IMCIM) was set up to manage and contain the illegal mining practice.

It was not long when those in charge of the IMCIM were caught in taking bribes from illegal miners and the President did not exercise his Presidency on the matter. The insincerity of President Akufo-Addo was badly exposed when former Minister of Environment, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng cited ‘Presidential Galamseyers’ for thwarting the efforts in the fight against HTG.

This insincerity and ineffectiveness of President Akufo-Addo is the sole cause of endangering the lives of millions of Ghanaians due to complete devastation of forest reserves, farmlands and pollution of water bodies and associated health implications.

Unprecedented greed

The aggravated HTG menace now is proof of unprecedented greed of this Akufo-Addo-led regime. This is the first time that forest reserves were given out for mining concessions and alluvial mining.

It is not surprising to see all our major river bodies heavily polluted now. Those involved are only interested in making money to the detriment of all Ghanaians eating and drinking poisoned food and water.

Lack of commitment

There is a complete lack of commitment to the fight against HTG on the part of President Akufo-Addo who promised Ghanaians to deal with the environmental cancer head-on, even if it caused his Presidency. This turned out to be an empty political talk and he is simply looking on while the Presidential Galamseyers and cronies continue to mine and destroy habitats of plants and animals, biodiversity, cocoa farms and water bodies.

Bawumia blamable too

While Akufo-Addo was promising and not doing much to curb the HTG menace, Dr. Bawumia appears to be looking on and did not show adequate concern. Like his boss Akufo-Addo, Dr. Bawumia should also be strongly blamed for the poor way the HTG practice is being handled under their regime and watch.

Conclusion

As Keneddy Agyapong described Akufo-Addo as someone who is like a tree without roots to stand on. President Akufo-Addo allowed unhinged greed, insincerity and lack of commitment to defeat him in the fight against worsening HTG practice. The continuous silence of President Akufo-Addo, after putting his Presidency on the line is highly concerning.

It now appears Akufo-Addo has given up on HTG now and will leave office with a bad legacy. As the Commander-in-chief, Nana Akufo-Addo must therefore be blamed for condoning ‘Presidential Galamseyers’ and their assigns in this matter.

A change in government is necessary to reverse this dangerous and scary HTG menace in the country. The alternative policies proposed by former President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC to use broadened stakeholders, AI, cleaning the poisoned rivers, and ban on alluvial mining will address this huge environmental threat.