By Peter Agengre
The paramount chief of Sekoti Traditional Area, Naba Sigri Bewong, has lashed out at the government for its inability to fully take control and stop galamsey activities in the country. He said government was adamant in its promise of eradicating galamsey in the country, an activity that is contributing greatly to climate change and global warming in the country.
Representing the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs at the Annual General Conference of the Ghana Association of Public Health Technical Officers (GAPHTO) at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, the paramount chief was alarmed about how galamsey activities have polluted water bodies across the country.
“Look at the water pollution. All the rivers are polluted. The amount of chemicals the Ghana Water Company is importing just to purify our water is enormous. And they are passing the bills to the consumer. That’s why the tariffs are always increasing and increasing,’’ Naba Sigri Bewong revealed.
Naba Sigri Bewong reiterated that galamsey has left the water bodies contaminated, putting aquatic life in danger and subsequently eroding the farmlands of their nutrients. He recounted how the laws were enforced during his days as inspector of mines at the Ashanti Gold Fields, Dunkwa Gold Fields, and Tarkwa Gold Fields, where they ensured clean mining. According to him, they had the power to terminate appointments of those who went contrary to the laws.
“But where are the laws today? Corruption and abuse have taken over. There was no way you could accept to be bribed. But today, what is happening? Things have changed, and galamsey is killing us. If we do not take care, Ghana will have to import water for us to drink. We are not serious about galamsey operations. It is incumbent upon the government to take bold steps to eradicate galamsey,” Naba Sugri Bewong bemoaned.
Naba Sigri Bewong was optimistic that government could still make an impact to avert the simple epidemics that might hit future generations due to global warming. The theme for this year’s GAPHTO conference was on the Impact of Air Pollution and Global Warming on Public Health.
