Opinions of Monday, 23 September 2024

Columnist: Robert Dambo

Ghana, a nation in ruins: wealth over welfare

File photo File photo

The galamsey menace is a clear indication of a failed state, a nation of hopelessness and irresponsible leadership.

A nation that gives unfettered access to foreign nationals to irresponsibly mine, destroy it water bodies and threaten aquatic life that they feed from can only be a nation without thinking leadership in the helm of affairs.

The government is complicit in the galamsey fight reason they lack the political might to deal with this dangerous galamsey menace.

It is a fact that politically exposed persons are directly involved in this evil being inflicted on the virgin lands, clean water and its people. No reasonable leadership would allow galamsey to thrive nor allow its buffer zones, forest reserve and water bodies to be encroached.

The current leadership is a leadership that thinks about the “TODAYS EATING WITH BOTH HANDS” without regard to tomorrow. It is either they are bereft of ideas, deliberate and reckless irresponsibility or their insatiable greed has blindfolded them to an unimaginable degree.

Cocoa which has been the backbone of our economy and has contributed significantly to trade is being cut down for irresponsible mining to thrive even when the country makes little or no benefit for this minerals being exploited from the destroyed forest belt.

The dangers of this havoc being wrecked on our land includes many and other harmful heavy metals found in our water and foods that feed our country.

We are all threatened in one form or another and the youth of Ghana must take their destinies into their own hands and fight at sustaining this country for the future since the politicians clothed with the powers and mandate to deal with this canker would not be affected in the pending imminent importation of water, food and other commodities for their survival.

Ghana should be likened to “banana republic” where leadership and principles are thrown to the dogs -and as a result, the lawlessness has infested its people with rabies.

It is quiet surprising and sickening to hear the head of the counsel of state clothed with the mandate and powers to offer wise counsel to the president opines that, stoping mining, galamsey and its activities would create unemployment, geishhh!!! so should armed robbers be offered ammunition to rob since they are equally threatened by unemployment and must rob to feed? Such grey hairs and on heads we pay them to assume a certain responsibility should not be seen and heard dabble in such enterprises.

The dangers of irresponsible leadership, thievery and weaklings in decision making is felt by the vulnerable masses but the masses who have the power to empower, “depower” and also help quell these dangers are far sleeping and divided by the “honeys” of this wrecking evil.

The youth of this country needs a united front of purpose and reason to drum home their demands of responsible leadership against this irresponsibility.