Blogs
Illegal mining of mineral resources-Ghana
Illegal mining in Ghana popularly known as "Galamsey" has become a sore subject and a true menace to our society .It has especially had a great impact on climate change. the problems that this activity causes cannot be over emphasized yet it is important that in order to truly examine the issue we have to acknowledge that there are some SEEMINGLY valid reasons for which citizens of a country partake in an act that not only harms them but their country at large.
To begin with it is important to note that Ghana has a relatively high unemployment rate so it is easy to understand the frustration of university graduates and other qualified people who are unemployed and decide to turn to activities that will generate money more quickly. Also the rise in the inflation rate of Ghana has caused some to seek additional income in order to afford the high priced goods on the market as well a s maintain their standard of living.Lastly the cold hard truth that needs to be touched upon is the selfishness and over-ambition of certain people who wish to live lavishly therefor engage in these activities as a means of doing so.in the end it all boils down to source of income.
the effects of illegal mining in Ghana are grave and sometimes permanent in the victim areas.This activity encompasses several environmentally harmful activities.First is deforestation, during illegal mining in Ghana the miners end up clearing undesignated forest areas in order to undertake their activities because their activities are illegal they don't feel the need to replant which ends up affecting the carbon dioxide and water concentrations in the atmosphere and also ends up reducing the amount of virgin land in the country which affects farming activities. These miners also often use dangerous chemicals such as cyanide in their activities this not only affects soil activity thereby inhibiting plant growth,the cyanide is often blast near water bodies which are often communal meaning both the indigenous people as well as animals in that area who use that water are going to bear the adverse effects also this blasting activity often clouds or contaminates the atmosphere with poisonous gases some of which contribute to the greenhouse effect.There are other effects of this activity on the indigenous people for example many of their farm lands and other lands that would otherwise have brought them income are now destroyed as a result. Also these people are contracting various airborne diseases as a result of the blasting done. To the economy the government loses revenue and natural resources as these minerals can no longer be accounted for.
One major aspect of mining that is often not brought to mind is colonization .Colonization has played a major role in shaping not only the extent to which galamsey takes place but the manner in which it does so as well. Now the mindset of indigenous people has been shaped in such a way that there is no reason to not over exploit our mineral resources since our colonial masters over exploited us as resources..Also the colonial masters of Ghana did not necessarily train the indigenous people to mine in the most Eco-friendly way possible but rather the most effective way,this skill and line of thinking has been passed on from generation to generation and the adverse effects are now being felt.
However it is encouraging to realize that the government of Ghana has not completely turned a blind eye to this situation. Currently, the Minister of lands and Forestry has launched a Multilateral Mining Integrated Project in the Eastern Region of Ghana which involves the provision of laws concerning the issue, measures of enforcement of the law and technology to ensure transparency and sustainable mining.
