Peter Amewu and other dignitaries on the dais
THE MINISTER of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, has openly expressed gross concern over how illegal mining, popularly called ‘Galamsey’, has destroyed the environment.
He said a sizeable part of the country’s rich forest reserve had been wiped away and water bodies, which previously served as safe drinking water for some of the populace, had either been contaminated or destroyed.
Without mincing words, Peter Amewu stated categorically that illegal mining had caused severe environmental troubles for the country and so every Ghanaian should join the crusade to condemn illegal mining.
“Galamsey has destroyed farmlands, rivers and streams and the environment in general so we should all come together as one people and condemn the act”, the minister stated during a function at Sakra Wonoo in the Ashanti Region.
Peter Amewu disclosed that the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Western, Eastern, Upper East and Upper West Regions have all suffered severely because of illegal mining, adding that it was about time the menace was halted completely.
According to him, in an attempt to save the environment from further destruction caused by illegal mining, government has packaged a multi-sectorial mining regulation; hence he entreated the citizenry to embrace it.
The occasion was the official Launch of the 7th Forestry Week and Greening Ghana Day in Commemoration of International Day of Forests, which attracted several top dignitaries to Sakra Wonoo, the venue of the historic programme.
Peter Amewu passionately appealed to traditional leaders in the country to contribute their quota to help eliminate all forms of illegal mining from the country so that the environment could be protected.
He also urged the media to use their powerful platforms to help educate the populace about the dangers that illegal mining poses to the citizenry.
Peter Amewu also expressed sadness about how farmlands were being turned into construction sites saying, “Urbanization without regard to the environment causes problems such as flooding”.
The event was attended by Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie aka ‘Sir John’, Simon Osei Mensah, Osei Assibey Antwi and Kwabena Kokofu, among others. Trees were planted across Sakra Wonoo at the tail end of the historic event.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi