President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has emphasized that the prohibition of illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, is showing favorable outcomes in the pursuit of reducing carbon emissions.
During his address at the 2023 Africa Climate Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, the President highlighted that the ban on galamsey, which has inflicted damage on water bodies and forest reserves, has contributed to a decrease in carbon emissions within the country.
President Akufo-Addo also underscored the role of various flagship policy initiatives, including planting for food and jobs, one village, one dam, and the ban on illegal mining, in not only diminishing carbon emissions but also enhancing Ghana’s resilience against the adverse effects of climate change.
He stated, “We placed a ban on illegal mining the phenomenon we call galamsey which was destroying our water bodies, vegetation and our forest. Some 20, 000 young people have been engaged to plant more than 30 million trees in two years to create jobs and restore degraded lands.
“These policy initiatives are already yielding positive results in the attainment of SDG Goals, particularly the goal of reducing our carbon emissions,” President Akufo-Addo said.
The President urged fellow African nations to adopt similar measures to reduce their own carbon emissions and bolster their resilience in the face of climate change impacts.
In a related development, the residents and leaders of Akyem Hemang, an agricultural community in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern Region, have issued a ten-day ultimatum to the Ghana Police Service, Eastern Regional Coordinating Council, and the local government to either expel or apprehend illegal miners responsible for polluting water sources and damaging farmlands in the area.
The community leaders explained that if the mentioned authorities do not take action to halt the activities of these miners within the specified timeframe, the community will take matters into their own hands to safeguard and preserve their water bodies and agricultural lands.
The Chief of Akyem Hemang, Osabarima Mmirrikkissi Okasum Apori Atta, expressed his frustration, stating, “We know you have done your best, but it is not good enough, if you can’t do it, give us about 10 policemen to accompany us. Who has authorised them to come and mine our waterbodies in the first place? We cannot build Ghana in this way…I cannot hold back the anger of my people again.
He concluded, “Within 10 days, if we don’t hear anything we will apply officially, to follow due process to go on demonstration and we will need police guard to drive them away. If there are no laws in this land, let us know so we take the laws into our own hands.”
