Rev. Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong
THE CHRISTIAN Council of Ghana (CCG) has joined the fight against illegal mining otherwise known as galamsey, with a call on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ensure that all the heavily polluted water bodies in the country become drinkable again.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary of CCG, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, the council asked the president to “institute immediate measures to curtail illegal mining which has accordingly degraded vast portions of lands in the country and rendered almost all major water bodies polluted with deadly chemicals such as cyanide and mercury.”
CCG recalled the days when River Birim, which flows from the Atiwa range in the Eastern Region, was so pure and clean and natives could drink from it directly without treatment.
“Other rivers, the Tano, Pra, Ankobra, were tourist attractions and the pride of the country. Today however, they have become a sea of dark brown water, harbouring dangerous chemicals. Communities along the banks have been deprived of water for farming and domestic use,” the council noted.
CCG expressed regret concerning allegation that some traditional leaders and high profile politicians, who have the responsibility of holding the nation in trust for the future generations, have fronted and participated in galamsey activities, which continue to destroy the very land they have sworn to protect.
Ghana is currently grappling with the devastating effects of illegal mining on farmlands and in water bodies.
According to CCG, illegal mining has also destroyed vast amounts of cocoa lands and robbed farmers of their livelihoods.
“It threatens as well to derail the country’s target of increasing production of the cash crop to earn more foreign exchange,” it observed.
CCG urged other religious groupings to join the media campaign against illegal mining.
BY Melvin Tarlue