Mahama’s meeting with CSOs on galamsey battle a ‘charade’ – Akwasi Konadu – Life Pulse Daily

Introduction

In a recent turn of events that has sparked heated debate among environmentalists, policymakers, and the public, Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Akwasi Konadu, has labeled President John Dramani Mahama’s engagement with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)

on the escalating galamsey (illegal small-scale mining) crisis as a diversionary “charade.” This harsh critique highlights growing concerns that government efforts to address the environmental and socio-economic devastation caused by illegal mining in Ghana may be more about optics than action. As galamsey activities continue to wreak havoc on Ghana’s ecosystems, water bodies, and farming communities, questions persist about the effectiveness of current strategies and the genuine political will to confront the issue. This article delves into Konadu’s accusations, examines the challenges of tackling galamsey, and explores potential solutions to safeguard Ghana’s natural resources.

Analysis: The Galamsey Crisis and Political Engagement

The term “galamsey” refers to illegal small-scale mining activities that have proliferated across Ghana, contributing to severe ecological degradation. These operations often involve the use of harmful chemicals like

mercury and cyanide, leading to long-term contamination of rivers and farmlands. Over the years, the crisis has drawn bipartisan criticism, with opposition figures and civil society groups accusing

the current administration of prioritizing economic incentives over environmental protection. Akwasi Konadu’s remarks at a meeting with CSOs underscore this tension, framing the President’s recent engagement as a mere public relations exercise.

Public Relations Over Policy: A Critique

Konadu argues that President Mahama’s meeting with CSOs was less about collaborative problem-solving and more about creating an illusion of responsiveness. He claims

the discussion lacked concrete proposals, such as specific enforcement

measures, timelines for action, or commitments to

reforming the Banking

and Non-State Pension Fund Act,

which critics

argue has enabled illegal mining through lax financial regulations. “This is

not a meeting of minds; it’s a photo opportunity,” he stated, referencing

the absence of actionable outcomes from prior discussions.

Security Zones: A Familiar but Flawed Tactic

One of the key proposals from the government, the designation of “security zones” around sensitive areas, has been

dismissed as

ineffective. Konadu points

out that similar strategies were attempted in the past, such as declaring nine forest reserves in

2023 as protected areas. However, he

notes that the number of threatened reserves has now ballooned to 44, raising doubts

about the government’s ability

to enforce these protections. Without

strengthened oversight and

community buy-in,

these zones

risk becoming

paper exercises.

Summary: Key Takeaways

Konadu’s critique centers on

three main issues: the

lack of substantive

measures to curb galamsey,

the inefficacy of

recycled strategies like

security zones,

and the urgent

need for

enhanced collaboration

with local

communities. By framing

the CSO meeting as

a diversionary tactic,

he underscores

the mounting frustration

among stakeholders

who demand

concrete action over

symbolic gestures

to address Ghana’s

environmental crisis.

Key Points: The Galamsey Emergency

• Galamsey Activities: Illicit mining has surged, fueled by economic desperation and weak enforcement.
• Government Inaction?: Critics argue that efforts to regulate

  or combat

  galamsey remain half-hearted,

  with enforcement agencies under-resourced

  and

  corruption rife.

• Environmental Impact: Rivers like the Prah

  River have

  seen mercury

  leak into

  their waters,

  threatening drinking water

  supplies.

• Public Health Risks: Children and farmers are particularly vulnerable

  to

  toxic exposure

  from contaminated soil and

  water

  caused by

  galamsey.

Practical Advice: Strategies to Combat Galamsey

Experts recommend

a multi-pronged approach to

tackle galamsey effectively.

Community Involvement

Engaging local farmers

and fishers as “environmental stewards” can help

curb illegal

mining.

Initiatives like

community-led monitoring

and

alternative livelihood programs

for miners could

reduce reliance

on destructive practices.

Legal and Policy Reforms

Strengthening

the Minerals Commission’s

authority,

implementing strict penalties for

illegal

mining,

and ensuring

transparency in

licensing processes

are critical

steps.

National and International Collaboration

Ghana should leverage

partnerships with bodies

like

the United Nations

Environment Programme

to access

technical expertise and

funding for rehabilitating

mined-out

areas.

Points of Caution: Risks of Mismanagement

While the

government’s engagement with CSOs is

a necessary step,

there are risks

in over-relying

on top-down policies

without grassroots

involvement.

Sustainability Challenges

Policies

must be

adapted to

Ghana’s unique

socio-economic

context. For

example,

cracking down

too

heavily

on

informal miners

without offering

alternatives

could

exacerbate poverty

and social unrest.

Accountability and Transparency

Continuous

monitoring and

public reporting

of enforcement

activities are

essential

to avoid accusations

of

corruption and

bias.

Technology and Innovation

Adopting technologies

like

remote sensing

and

satellite

monitoring

can

improve

detection

of

illegal activities,

but

require investment in

training and

infrastructure.

Comparison: Past vs. Present Strategies

Galamsey enforcement has long been

a

contentious

policy issue in

Ghana. Prior administrations

have faced

similar

criticisms

for

failing

to

crack down

on

illegal mining

effectively. However,

Konadu

argues that

the

current coalition

government’s approach

lacks

the urgency of

past responses.

Historical

Cases

In

2018,

President Akufo-Add

ow’s

government deployed

military

personnel

to combat

galamsey,

a move criticized

as

overly militarized but praised

for

temporarily

reducing

mining

activities

in certain areas.

Lessons from

Past Efforts

While

military interventions

were met with mixed results

due

to

community

resistance,

Konadu suggests

that combining

community engagement

with

strict

enforcement

is

key.

Legal Implications: The Regulatory Framework

Ghana’s

Minerals

Act

2006 (Act 706) governs

mining operations,

but

gaps in

enforcement

and corruption

have allowed galamsey to

flourish.

Need for

Stricter Enforcement

The

Minister

for

Lands

and

Natural

Resources,

John Amarmie,

has

highlighted

the

need

for

“zero tolerance”

policy toward

illegal

mining.

However,

without visible penalties

and

swift

case

handling,

the

law

remains

unenforceable.

Potential Consequences

Failure

to

address

galamsey

could

lead

to

legal

challenges

for

Ghana in

international

forums,

particularly

regarding

water pollution

and

biodiversity

loss.

Conclusion: A Call for Action

President Mahama’s

engagement with CSOs

marks

a

step toward

dialogue;

however, this must

be

coupled

with unwavering commitment

to

protect

Ghana’s

natural

resources. Akwasi

Konadu’s

criticism

serves

as

a

wake-up

call to prioritize

ecological sustainability

over political

posturing.

FAQ: Galamsey and Governance

What is galamsey and why is it a

concern?

Galamsey refers

to

illegal

small

scale

mining

activities that

violate environmental

and

social regulations

. It threatens

water

safety,

farmland,

and

local

communities.

Has the government taken

any action against

galamsey?

The government

has

announced measures

such

as

security zones and

community engagement

, though critics

argue these are

insufficient

without

enforcement

backing.

Sources and Citations

Further

read

on galamsey can be

found

on

official

government

websites,

academic

studies

from

the

Center

for

Environmental

Studies (CEES),

and

reports

from

international bodies like

UNDP.