For Immediate Release: The Growing and Concerned Fight Against Galamsey

CHRISTIAN COUNCIL OF GHANA

Press Statement

To all Media Houses

October 8 , 2024

THE GROWING & CONCERTED FIGHT AGAINST GALAMSEY

As the foremost and leading ecumenical organisation in Ghana, the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) which will be 95 years on October 30 – this month, deems it a moral imperative to add its voice to recent calls by well-meaning persons and groups demanding an immediate ban on the galamsey activities in Ghana.

Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM), popularly called galamsey, has gained increased attention in Ghana today because of its detrimental impact on Ghana’s natural environment. Research has established that the increased pervasiveness of galamsey is an existential threat. Galamsey has exacerbated the degradation of our environment through the pollution of our water bodies and the reckless destruction of our forest resources.

Research conducted from 2000 to 2023 on “Ecological Study of Galamsey Activities in Ghana and their Physiological Toxicity” and published in the Journal of Environmental Toxicology Research in March this year, has reemphasised that galamsey has contributed to the environmental degradation of Ghana. Specifically, galamsey has heightened the depletion of our land and water resources, and exposed the ‘galamseyers’ themselves and many other countrymen and women, to health hazards with their concomitant social and economic effects.

The research conducted by Samuel Ofori, Joshua Dwomoh, Enoch Owusu Yeboah, all of the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, and Martin Leo Aggrey of the University of Education-Winneba, revealed that “galamsey has had significant ecological consequences, including deforestation, habitat destruction, water pollution, soil degradation

.” Sadly, the research also disclosed that the beauty of Ghana’s natural environment is being destroyed because of galamsey. The study highlighted the physiological health issues faced by galamsey miners, such as accidents, physical strain, mental strain, kidney problems and respiratory disorders and metabolic diseases.

Regrettably, the researchers noted, that the presence of elevated levels of mercury, cyanide, arsenic and cadmium in both the environment and the human body are directly linked to this Small-Scale Gold Mining. Furthermore, the authors disclosed that nearly 70% of the houses in galamsey communities relied on surface water and all of the homes used the fields or bush as their main place of convenience.

In the light of the above, the Christian Council of Ghana is calling on all duty bearers of our dear country especially the President, to take immediate action to stop all forms of illegal mining anywhere in Ghana. Whilst calling for this ban of stocktaking, moving forward, solutions such as the implementation of remote sensing, geospatial technologies, promotion of clean mining technologies, environmental conservation and the creation of massive public health awareness, are key technical and innovative measures that must be implemented to mitigate the destructive effects of Small-Scale Gold Mining in Ghana.

The CCG is of the strong conviction that an immediate ban on galamsey and the subsequent auditing of all galamsey related activities including licensing and all failed past measures, for stocktaking, must be immediately considered by the President and all duty bearers of our State. This is a call for responsible governance; it is a call to preserve our environment which is our heritage; it is a call to save the very natural resources that promote our survival as a people; and this call must be heeded now!

Signed

CCG, Osu, Accra-Ghana

Download Official Statement Here

Source: CCG