The state of our environment has been deteriorating very fast for at least the past ten years.
The irresponsible large scale illegal mining activities known in Ghanaian parlance as ‘Galamsey’ are wreaking havoc not only on the environment but are also severely affecting the health of many communities in the country.
There are numerous reports which indicate the continuous worsening of these negative activities.
Many farming communities are fast losing their livelihood and food sources in the affected areas through extensive pollution and degradation of the environment and water bodies.
The main reason for the environmental degradation and pollution is the continuing massive release of mine wastes into the rivers and other water bodies. Indeed, the situation is getting worse every year.
The Catholic Standard does not need to carry out any research to understand that there is unusual increase in the occurrence of respiratory and dermatological health cases and other adverse effects in these communities.
It is a pity that we have allowed foreign mining companies, particularly those from China, to grab our lands, poison our water bodies and destroy our environment.
Since everything in nature is ultimately connected to each other, we should never forget that polluted water can also get into drinking water supply systems.
The consequence of our blatant disregard for nature stems from the inability to deliver undisturbed environmental services required by all living organisms.
The damage that we cause to the environment cannot be counted in monetary or financial terms. What is evident is that the exploitation of our natural resources is not for free. We will surely pay for it in one way or the other if we do not change this paradigm of our relation with the environment.
We do not have the right to exploit and destroy it without taking into consideration the future generations.
At least, it is heart-warming that according to the Editor-in Chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Kweku Baako, his investigative team, supported by Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ Tiger Eye PI, has been gathering materials for the past nine months and will be released once all the facts have been properly verified.
The Catholic Standard hopes that the chiefs, politicians and other public servants who have been fingered in a documentary on illegal mining being prepared by his team will not only be named and shamed.
We would also like the Government to take the necessary legal action in prosecuting those found guilty of these great criminal activities that have dire consequences on the entire country.
