Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has warned of the growing environmental crisis caused by illegal mining ‘galamsey’ and the devastating consequences for the country. The situation, he said, is an ‘environmental genocide’ and blamed the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government for failing to take decisive action against the menace.
“Our country is under attack. Ghana is under the plague of an unprecedented spate of illicit, illegal, uncontrolled, and unregulated mining activities,” Forson said in his opening remarks to welcome MPs back for the fifth meeting of the fourth session of the 8th Parliament.
The Minority Leader painted a grim picture of Ghana’s environment and expressed concern over the destruction of farmlands, rivers, and forests due to illegal mining activities.
He lamented the widespread damage, stating that Ghana, once known for its natural beauty and mineral wealth, is becoming unrecognizable.
“Our beautiful country, once called the Gold Coast to underscore the rich mineral deposits God has bestowed on us, is fast becoming a pale shadow of itself,” Forson remarked.
He noted that many rivers and water bodies are now contaminated and resemble ‘brown coffee’ due to the reckless discharge of harmful chemicals such as mercury, lead, and cyanide.
Citing research from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Minority leader stressed the long-term impact of illegal mining on the land, warning that it could take up to 300 years to restore damaged soils.
He warned of the serious health implications of illegal mining, describing the birth defects that medical experts have linked to toxic pollution.
“Medical experts have delivered a scary verdict on babies being born with various deformities such as the absence of limbs, eyes, and other vital body parts,” he stated, emphasizing that the country is at a “crisis point,” he said.
The Minority Leader blamed the current administration, accusing the government of failing to address the issue adequately stating, “At the heart of this crisis is leadership failure, official complicity, and lack of political will by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government.”
Ato Forson urged Parliament to take immediate action and put pressure on the government to address the illegal mining crisis. He warned that the consequences of inaction could be disastrous for future generations.
“To do nothing is no longer an option. This House must rise to the occasion and bring the necessary pressure to bear on the government to act,” Forson declared.