‘What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?’ –  Mark 8:37 (NIV).

Dr. Basabasa: Prof., you remember in our last conversation I questioned the willingness of Organised Labour and other stakeholders about the fight against ‘galamsey’ (illegal mining) in Ghana.

Professor Nkwantabisa: It is still fresh in my mind. I think you are a prophet. So far, many of the stakeholders (relative to the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, UTAG, and the Catholic Church) have not demonstrated enough commitment to the fight.

Opanin Wisdom: Apathy is gradually eating up our sense of patriotism and good conscience. We have substituted nationalism for partisan politics. A number of Civil Societies, Professional Bodies, Religious Groups and other stakeholders are losing their salt and light in the building of our nation because of passivity and partisan politics.

A number of well-meaning Ghanaians are also sitting on the fence because they do not want to be tagged with political colours. In most cases, those who boldly speak truth to power or seek to hold public officers and institutions accountable are classified as sympathizers of minority parties. But we must boldly defend this nation from further sinking and stinking irrespective of the views of the accomplices or perpetrators of the things that destroy our beloved nation. ‘Galamsey’, for instance, is a great threat to the destiny of this nation.

Dr. Basabasa: According to the United Nations, ‘galamsey’ adversely affects a country’s development, environment, economy, peace, stability and security. Ghana’s river bodies, farmlands and forests in mining communities are being destroyed, if not already destroyed, through illegal mining. The menace is also breeding chronic illness in the country. Studies show that Ghana has failed to win the fight against illegal mining since 1989. What is becoming of our Gold Coast Ghana? 

Professor Nkwantabisa: Ghana is a blessed nation. The Europeans identified the country as Gold Coast, during the transatlantic slave trade, because of the large supplies of and market for gold that existed in the then British colony. The country was also called Gold Coast because of its abundant gold resources and its mining activities dating back to the Ghana Empire in the 7th Century. Although Ghana is no longer called Gold Coast; it remains one of the top 10 largest producers of gold in the world. Gold mining and export in Ghana largely contribute to job creation, tax revenue and GDP. However, illegal mining has become an existential threat in Ghana.

Opanin Wisdom: Of what benefit would it be if we receive all the gains of gold mining only to be destroyed by illegal mining. The little foxes are always the things that destroy vineyards. Irrespective of the enormous benefits of vineyards, little foxes can ravage vineyards if they are not dealt with. ‘Galamsey’, likewise corruption and impunity, is one of Ghana’s little foxes. The ‘galamsey’ fox in Ghana has not just succeeded in destroying some of our water bodies, farmlands and forest reserves; it has also divided the populace on political lines. It has also frozen our leaders (including traditional leaders) and political actors into inaction. I recently even overheard Ghana’s Chief Justice and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice blaming each other for the embarrassing failure of swiftly dealing with ‘galamsey’ cases resting at the corridors of our courts. The major political parties in Ghana have also reduced the seriousness of ‘galamsey’ to a political gala or blame-game. Why are we exalting or whitewashing or tolerating an illegality if we truly have this nation at heart? 

Professor Nkwantabisa: The solution to ‘galamsey’ does not just lie in making or amending or repealing laws. In fact, it does not even lie in real and potential demonstrations and strikes. It also has nothing to do with a particular time. As earlier stated, Ghana has been reneging on its fight against illegal mining since 1989. Were 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 election years? Why did we fail to tackle the menace in these years? Granted that they were election years; is it wrong to save lives in an election year? What then is the use of democracy and it associated elections if human lives and preservation of creation are not prioritized over election outcomes? Could this lukewarm attitude be the reason why our President could not truly put his presidency on the line to fight illegal mining during his tenure?

Dr. Basabasa: When it comes to saving lives and preserving posterity, you cannot give room to procrastination and political rhetoric. The real solution to the fight against illegal mining in Ghana are honesty, good conscience, willingness and commitment on the part of the Government of Ghana, all stakeholders and the populace. 2020 was an election year in Ghana yet the country wisely chose to fight against Covid-19. How different is the fight against Covid19 different from the fight against ‘galamsey’ if we are truly sincere?

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of If You Think of Your Opposition You Lose Your Position. The writer is an award-winning prolific author of 8 books and over 250 write-ups on legal and non-legal themes. The writer is also a fellow of the Brew-Hammond Energy Centre, KNUST, Kumasi. He is also a pastor, lawyer, law lecturer, certified life and leadership coach, and a blogger.

Email: richardobengmensah@gmail.com Mobile: +233 (0)246 556 774.

Blog: https://richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com/?m=1

Publication History

Authored on 27/10/2024 & 05/11/2024 and published on the author’s blog on 05/11/2024. 

Acknowledgement

The writer appreciates the critiques and valuable comments of his Editorial Team to this writeup. He however holds the sole responsibility for the content of this write-up. 

References

1. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, ‘Gold Coast: Slavery and Remembrance’ > https://slaveryandremembrance.org/articles/article/?id=A0109#:~:text=Gold%20Coas t%20is%20a%20former,for%20gold%20that%20existed%20there< Accessed 27 October 2024.
2. World Gold Council, ‘Global mine production’

>https://www.gold.org/goldhub/data/gold-production-by-country< Accessed 28 October 2024.

• Sean Ashcroft, ‘Top 10: Gold Producing Countries’ [Mining Digital 24 July 2024] >https://miningdigital.com/top10/top-10-gold-producing-countries< 28 October 2024.
• United Nations, ‘Illegal mining and trafficking in precious metals’ [UNDOC] > https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/environment-climate/illegal-mining.html< Accessed 28 October 2024.
• Enoch Randy Aikins, ‘Ghana must stop galamsey before it sinks the country’  [ISS 24 September 2024] >https://issafrica.org/iss-today/ghana-must-stop-galamsey-before-itsinks-the-country< 28 October 2024.