A lecturer at the environmental and safety department, University of Mines and Technology, Dr. Eric Gyimah, has asserted that if, as a country, we are unable to marshal forces and deal ruthlessly with the armed illegal miners who have taken 44 of our forest reserves under siege, then we are not a serious country.
He stated that this is a major national crisis that must be addressed before it escalates.
He was responding to concerns raised by Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
The minister indicated that forest guards and the Forestry Commission’s rapid response team are unable to confront these miners effectively because they lack the advanced weaponry the galamsey operators possess.
He disclosed this before parliament on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, saying, “Ghana’s forests are facing serious threats of deforestation and degradation due to well-known factors.
“The country is experiencing an unprecedented assault on its forest resources and water bodies, largely driven by illegal mining activities.”
Reacting to this, the lecturer said,’If we don’t have so much concern about this and protecting our forest reserves, then what again are we going to be concerned about? It is a matter that needs urgent attention”.
He was talking to Kwbena Agyapong on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM.
To combat galamsey, he advised, “We should not fight galamsey at the political table.” We will win the fight if we separate politics from the fight and focus on protecting our forest reserves and water bodies; however, if we make the issue political, we will have difficulty dealing with it”.
He said that illegal miners, particularly those who destroy our water bodies and reserves, are breaking the law and endangering human life, and should not be treated lightly.
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