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The youth have been urged to lead in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) to protect the environment for the current and future generation.
The Founding Director for Environmental and Sanitation Studies of the University of Ghana, Professor Chris Gordon, who made the call in Accra on Wednesday said the authorities of the country who were presiding over the galamsey mess would soon exit the earth and it was the youth who would bear the brunt of the menace.
The member of the 1975 year group of Achimota School, therefore entreated the youth to lead the activism to curb galamsey.
The lecture, which was on the theme: ‘Ghana’s Death by Galamsey: Who Will Bell the Cat?’ was organised by the Old Achimota Association (OAA).
Prof. Gordon, who delivered the keynote address, said the country’s authorities were playing ostriches with galamsey and the youth must stand up against to stop the practice.
He said galamsey had become essistential threat to the health and socio- economic development of the country.
According to him, nobody could escape the threat, harm and dangers of galamsey as the mercury used in processing gold had seeped in the country’s water and food system.
Quoting from the Water Resources Commission 2017 Report, he said more than 60 per cent of the country’s water bodies had been polluted.
He called for concerted efforts from all the political actors, and stakeholders to tackle galamsey, emphasising that, “Pollution of the environment knows not any political party.”
For instance, he emphasised that the burning of excavators as a means to combating illegal mining (galamsey) was not the best approach to addressing the menace as it aggravated the environmental pollution associated with galamsey that the state wanted to curb.
Additionally, Prof. Gordon said seized excavators could serve as generator plants for hospitals and communities without electricity and as pumping machines for agricultural purposes
The President of OAA, Joel Nettey, noted that the Achimota Speaks programme started nine years ago during the 90th anniversary celebration of the school.
He said the current lecture was centred on galamsey given the negative impact of the menace on health and the country’s water bodies.
Mr Nettey indicated that there were stories of babies born with deformities linked to the dangerous chemicals used by galamsey operators.
The President of OAA also mentioned that the issue of illegal mining should not be politicised since it affected every individual irrespective of your political affiliation.
