By King Amoah.
The Ashanti regional Communication Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr. Paul Kwabena Yandoh has put forth a resolute argument that a declaration of a state of emergency is the only viable alternative to effectively combat and end the menace of illegal gold mining popularly known as galamsey.
Mr. Yandoh specifically directed this call to President John Dramani Mahama by urging him to activate this extreme measure to safeguard Ghana’s environment and natural resources.
In an exclusive interview with the correspondent on Monday September 22nd, Mr. Yandoh expressed disappointment over the escalating activities of galamsey which continue to wreak havoc on the nation’s vital water bodies and forest reserves.
He lamented the undeniable pollution of essential water sources which pose as a grave threat to public health and the environment.
According to the affable NPP Communicator despite the abundant evidence that highlight the existential threat of the activities of galamsey government appears ignorant to take action to restore our water bodies.
To substantiate his claim Mr. Yandoh recounted a recent fact finding mission to Agona Kwayako in the Central Region where he witnessed a harrowing scenes.
He noted that while residents of Agona Kwayako and other 11 districts do not engage in galamsey themselves all their sources of drinking water
including local river bodies have been extensively destroyed by contaminated water flowing from the Ayensu river in the Eastern Region.
This contamination he reiterated has rendered clean drinking water inaccessible to the community a situation Yandoh described it as being beyond the control of Ghana Water Company Ltd in the area.
He questioned the authorities on their efforts to address these critical water challenges.
Mr. Yandoh further alleged that President John Dramani Mahama is prioritizing financial gains from the Goldbod (likely referring to gold revenue or related entities) for the country.
While acknowledging the importance of generating revenue Mr. Yandoh warned that this approach poses a dangerous risk to human health.
He therefore implored the President to disregard the potential profits from gold mining, given the overwhelming evidence of galamsey’s detrimental impact on the health of the countless Ghanaians.
The Ashanti regional Communication Director of the NPP firmly believes that a state of emergency is the definitive solution.
He indicated that such a declaration would designate galamsey operation areas as security zones to effectively deterring illegal miners from continuing their destructive activities.
This, he concluded would be instrumental in restoring the nation’s polluted water bodies and preventing further environmental degradation.
