Gospel musician Cwesi Oteng has called for a stronger and more consistent effort in tackling the issue of illegal mining, widely known as galamsey.
In an interview with Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, he shared his concerns about how illegal miners seem to operate freely despite the efforts being made to curb the menace.
Expressing his surprise, the singer behind the hit track ‘God dey bless Me’ questioned why the illegal activities continue without significant action being taken. He speculated on the possibility of influential individuals being behind it.
“It’s like the system has closed its mind to the situation. Perhaps some of the wealthy people that do these things also support government. I don’t know how the forces of the land have not taken action,” he stated in the interview.
Read Also: Galamsey in Ghana – a recipe for occupational and a public health disaster
He also highlighted that although military personnel had been deployed to mining areas, their intervention must not be temporary. Cwesi urged for a sustained commitment, saying, “Currently, I have seen that the soldiers are trying to clear people from the water bodies. I wish that can be consistent on a daily basis. Not like a one-week something because as for the water, it is changing, and eventually it will reach us all.”
His comments follow recent protests and demonstrations that have reignited the national conversation on the environmental damage caused by galamsey. Various groups and activists continue to push for decisive action to stop illegal mining and protect Ghana’s water bodies from further destruction.
Galamsey refers to illegal small-scale mining in Ghana, which has become a major environmental and social issue. It often leads to the destruction of water bodies, deforestation, and land degradation, impacting both the environment and local communities. Despite government interventions, galamsey continues to be a challenge due to the involvement of powerful individuals and a lack of consistent enforcement. Efforts are ongoing to combat the problem and restore affected areas
Source: Ameyawdebrah
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