The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has sounded a clarion call for urgent action against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, signaling a new phase in the nation’s efforts to protect its environment.
The Association is preparing to roll out a series of initiatives designed to hold the government accountable and intensify the fight against the ongoing destruction of Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves.
Dr. Ivy Fiador, the newly elected President of UTAG, shared the Association’s concerns with the media, expressing deep worry about the consequences of unchecked galamsey operations. “Water is an essential thing, and that is what we drink. Now it may look like it is far away from us. In a few years, we are likely to be battling more diseases than we normally would. Already, as a nation, we are financially challenged,” she cautioned.
Dr. Fiador acknowledged that while illegal mining may appear to provide employment opportunities, the long-term costs far outweigh the short-term benefits. “When you juxtapose the cost implication when you want to restore degraded lands or water, then you realise that the net present value is negative in the long run,” she noted, urging the country to look beyond immediate gains and consider the lasting impact on public health and the economy.
UTAG’s upcoming measures aim to put sustained pressure on the government to act decisively, reflecting the Association’s belief that the future of Ghana’s environment and its people depends on immediate intervention. “Unchecked galamsey operations threaten not only public health but also the nation’s economic stability,” Dr. Fiador emphasized.
As UTAG prepares to unveil its action plan, the national conversation on illegal mining continues to gather momentum. President John Dramani Mahama is set to meet with over 60 civil society organizations on Friday, October 3, to deliberate on strategies to end galamsey and secure Ghana’s environmental future.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
