In a recent social media post, Oliver Barker Vormawor stated that the fight against galamsey in Ghana has been lost. However, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, Spokesperson for the Lands Ministry, disagrees with this assertion. Schandorf argues that the fight against galamsey is a long-term process and that it is unfair to declare defeat when efforts are still being made to combat the issue. He points out that galamsey has been a problem in Ghana for years and that it will take time to reverse the damage.
Schandorf notes that the government has made significant progress in the fight against galamsey, including making it difficult for excavators to be imported and used illegally. He states that over 1,400 excavators are currently sitting idle at ports because their owners cannot justify their entry. Additionally, registered excavators are being fitted with electronic tracking devices to monitor their movement and use. Schandorf believes that these efforts demonstrate that the fight against galamsey is not lost.
The government has also taken steps to address the issue of changfans, machines that have been used to destroy Ghana's rivers. Schandorf reports that authorities have seized or immobilized 1,724 changfan machines in anti-galamsey operations as of July this year. He argues that these gains demonstrate that the fight against galamsey is not lost, but rather ongoing.
Schandorf acknowledges that there are still many challenges to be addressed in the fight against galamsey. He notes that some rivers remain polluted, and illegal miners continue to operate with impunity. However, he believes that these issues do not necessarily mean that the fight has been lost. Rather, they highlight the need for continued effort and enforcement.
Schandorf invites Vormawor to visit the Lands Ministry to see the work being done to combat galamsey firsthand. He encourages Vormawor to ask tough questions and assess the intensity of the work being deployed daily. Schandorf believes that this will provide Vormawor with a better understanding of the efforts being made to address the issue.
The fight against galamsey is a long-term process that requires sustained effort and political will. Schandorf emphasizes that the government is committed to addressing the issue and that progress will take time. He cites the support of President John Dramani Mahama and the sector minister, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, as evidence of the government's commitment to combating galamsey.
Schandorf concludes by thanking Vormawor for his advocacy and encouraging him to continue holding the government accountable. He believes that continued pressure and scrutiny will help to ensure that the fight against galamsey is successful in the long term. The fight against galamsey is a marathon, not a sprint, and Schandorf is confident that with continued effort, progress will be made.
Key points
- The government has made significant progress in the fight against galamsey, including restricting the importation of excavators and seizing changfan machines.
- The fight against galamsey is a long-term process that requires sustained effort and political will.
- The government remains committed to addressing the issue, with the support of President John Dramani Mahama and the sector minister, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
