The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Thomas Tanko Musah has expressed worry over the effect of galamsey on the lives of children in galamsey communities.
Organized labour, the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and other institutions in Ghana have expressed concern over the alarming effects of galamsey in the country and have called on the President to declare a state of emergency.
During an interview on TV3 on the show, Ghana Tonight with Alfred Ocansey on Wednesday, Musah Tanko berated the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor for saying declaring a state of emergency is a draconian and far-reaching.
He further disclosed that children between the ages of 5 and 18 years are into child labour; adding that while some of these children are dying at mining sites, others have also been affected in their brains causing their learning inability to deteriorate.
“Children between the ages of 5 and 18 years, 21% of them are into child labour. And about 14% are into hazardous labour. To make it simple, every 5 children you, see, one is into child labour.”
“And the other 4 who are in school are no more in school because of the levels of pollution, those four children go long distances to look for water. And those coming to school are suffering from cancer and other illnesses. Are we waiting for all of us to die before you know something is happening? Those in the schools now, their brains have been affected because of the chemicals we use. It has affected them because they drink the water”. He revealed
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