Ahead of World Rivers Day (WRD) on 22nd September, a coalition of environmental civil society organizations (CSOs) has released a critical list of demands to tackle the current water and galamsey crisis in Ghana.
The group notes that meetings convened by the President and the Lands and Natural Resources Minister to deal with the illegal mining canker will not solve the crisis, if they do not include implementing the demands made by the likes of Organised Labour or the Media Coalition Against Galamsey.
In order to restore our water bodies, farmlands and forests, and to safeguard the livelihood of farmers and fishermen, the CSOs make the following demands to Government:
1. Immediately declare a state of emergency in line with section 31 and 31 (4) of the 1992 Constitution and deploy the Police and Military to remove all miners and mining equipment from our water bodies, forest reserves and farmlands.
2. Repeal L.I. 2462 and ensure that there is no mining or logging in protected forest reserves or globally significant biodiversity areas.
3. Pause Small Scale Mining/Community Mining.
4. Cause environmental terrorists and all persons named in Prof. Frimpong Boateng’s report to be investigated.
In light of the low water output and extraordinarily high turbidity levels Ghana Water Company Ltd has to deal with, and the prevalent toxicity found in our rivers and farmlands, as a consequence of galamsey, the nation faces an existential threat. Consequently, the group urges the government to deal with its demands as a matter of urgency.
Additionally, a 5th demand requires all parties or persons aspiring for political office to declare support for the above, plus reclaiming and restoring our water bodies, farmlands and forests; and upholding the Polluter Pays Principle.
The CSOs encourage the citizenry to also do their bit in marking this year’s WRD by not only keeping the topic alive within their networks, but also directing their concerns to their MPs, MCEs, regional ministers, and duty-bearers, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forestry Commission, the Minerals Commission, and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
The CSOs involved include: A Rocha Ghana, Eco-Conscious Citizens, Ghana Environmental Advocacy Group, GH Environment, S/Atronsu Youths & Farmers Against Community/Small Scale Mining, Jema Anti-Galamsey Advocates, Concerned Citizens Of Atewa Landscape, GYEM, Youth Alliance for Green Ghana, Tropenbos Ghana, Young Reporters for the Environment and Friends Of the Earth Ghana.
