Kobbina Badu Baiden, the Forestry Manager for Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai, has voiced serious concerns about the difficulties in tackling illegal mining, or galamsey, in the district’s forest reserves.
He highlighted the severe damage this activity is inflicting on Ghana’s forests and urged for enhanced support from all stakeholders, including chiefs, the media, and community leaders, to address the problem effectively.
Kobbina Badu Baiden has identified insufficient support from stakeholders as a significant barrier to addressing illegal mining activities. He criticized the police prosecutors handling galamsey cases for not providing updates on their progress for several months.
This lack of communication and transparency has left forestry staff feeling demoralized and frustrated, particularly given their efforts and the risks they face in apprehending illegal miners in the forest reserves. “Illegal mining causes deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution, which threatens our efforts to protect Ghana’s rich biodiversity,” Baiden emphasized.
Kobbina Badu Baiden has identified insufficient support from stakeholders as a significant barrier to addressing illegal mining activities. He criticized the police prosecutors handling galamsey cases for not providing updates on their progress for several months.
This lack of communication and transparency has left forestry staff feeling demoralized and frustrated, particularly given their efforts and the risks they face in apprehending illegal miners in the forest reserves. “Illegal mining causes deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution, which threatens our efforts to protect Ghana’s rich biodiversity,” Baiden emphasized.
The Forestry Manager’s concerns highlight the urgent need for a unified strategy to tackle the ongoing galamsey problem in Ghana, which has led to severe environmental degradation, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.
Kobbina Badu Baiden has urged all stakeholders to unite in the fight against illegal mining in forest reserves. He stressed that effectively combating galamsey requires collaboration among government agencies, traditional authorities, and local communities.
“We must work together to address this issue, as it impacts us all,” he asserted.
