The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a clarion call to the government to adopt more stringent measures to combat the scourge of illegal mining, popularly referred to as galamsey.
According to Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the EPA, the galamsey menace is exacerbating the deleterious impacts of climate change, resulting in the scarcity of potable water in various parts of Ghana.
Professor Klutse emphasized the imperative for collective concern and action, stating, “We are really constrained in terms of getting quality water and available water for use in this country. We have also beyond the water, the land that is already affected by climate change. We know about deforestation and the nutrients of our soil is also threatened by climate change. However, we have issues of illegal mining that are also affecting our land.”
She further underscored the necessity for proactive measures, saying, “And we have to be concerned about this. So looking at the impact of climate change, which there is nothing we can do about, but we know there is a lot we can do about the illegal mining activities in the country.”
The EPA’s call to action is a testament to the agency’s commitment to environmental stewardship and its determination to mitigate the devastating effects of galamsey on Ghana’s ecosystem.
