WAR AGAINST 'GALAMSEY' - How far can this GO...?

The term, 'galamsey' originated from Wassa-Hemang in a small town called Prestea in the Western region of Ghana; almost a hundred years ago. This is when the early foreign visitors from Europe first set foot on the land.

History has it that, the group of Tourists was led by one Priston, whose name was eventually corrupted to form the name of the town - 'Prestea'.

When the Europeans first started small scale mining of gold, they used the English language as the only medium of communication between them and the natives of the land. The natives therefore, had no option than to force themselves into speaking English. That was the origin of 'galamsey' in Ghana.

Each time the whiteman instructed the natives to 'gather and sell' the gold dust and stones, they confusingly corrupted it to mean, 'galamsey'. This is the expression that has come to stay with us till this day.

Governments and most people have used the term 'galamsey' to mean illegal mining of gold on our lands, forest reserves and waters. By so doing, large cocoa farmlands and water bodies have remained depleted and polluted, over the years.

The current government of Ghana has therefore, taken the bull by the horn to help eradicate or at least, minimize the effects of this menace in our country.

The first major and bold policy statement or pronouncement against illegal mining was made by the President of the republic of Ghana, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, upon assumption of office in the year 2017 to the extent that he put his presidency on the line, should the fight against this menace, fail.

Serving as a follow-up measure to carry out this fight, enormous resources have been mobilized to help realize this dream, including the formation of a Presidential Task Force against illegal mining with the military command playing a leading role.

But, all seem to be to no avail with foreigners like the Chinese and our neighbouring ECOWAS citizens involving themselves in these illegal activities. The recent being the re-arrest of an identified Chinese woman one, Aisha Huang, also christened the 'Galamsey kingpin'. She had earlier been arrested in 2019 and supposed to have been deported to her country same year; having been investigated and found guilty of being involved in illegal mining activities. This has contributed to the devastation and destruction of our land resources, forest reserves and water bodies. She was suspected to have sneaked back into Ghana in early January, 2022.

Aisha Huang was later charged to court and arraigned before a judge to face both criminal and legal charges to prosecute the case.

From the West to the East, Central, Middle-belt and even in the Northern regions of Ghana the mad rush for gold cash has resulted in the destruction of our land and environment.

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has hinted that, if care is not taken, Ghana will be importing potable water in the nearest future because of these illegal mining activities across the country.

However, the question is, will this fight against galamsey be won? Well, your guess is just as good as mine or better still, only time will tell.

Category:

Society 

Oganisation:

Clevenard

Writer:

Charles Ollivant Akpome

Location:

Ghana