President John Dramani Mahama has admonished chiefs and the youth to play a proactive role in the protection of lands, forests, and water bodies from the devastating impacts of illegal mining activities in the Western Region.
This follows a renewed effort and commitment by the government in line with its manifesto promise to combat the menace to safeguard the environment.
In his address during a “Thank You Tour” in Sekondi, President Mahama said the state of the country’s water bodies is appalling and announced strategies to address the age-old phenomenon of illegal mining widely known as ’Galamsey’. “The whole country is appalled at the extensive environmental degradation that has been caused by illegal small-scale mining popularly known as Galamsey. Your own son Armah Kofi-Buah is formulating strategies for the implementation of our manifesto promise for dealing with this Galamsey menace,” he stated.
However, President Mahama highlighted the urgent need for collective action to combat the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, emphasizing that it is crucial for the future of their respective communities and the sustainability of natural resources.
“We are not going to make it the responsibility of only the security agencies. We are going to involve the chiefs and the young people in the communities to help protect your own lands, your forest, and your water bodies,” he noted.
President Mahama further stressed, “We will take urgent steps to halt mining activities in our forest reserves and on our rivers.”
Credit: starrfm