The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has announced plans to mount sustained pressure on the government to intensify its fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The Association argues that government must be held accountable for what it describes as the ongoing destruction of the country’s environment, particularly its water bodies and forest reserves.
Speaking to the media, newly elected UTAG President, Professor Vera Ogeh Fiador, said the Association will soon roll out specific measures to demand decisive action.
“Water is essential. It may seem like the issue is far from us now, but in a few years, we are likely to battle more diseases than we normally would. Already, as a nation, we are financially challenged,” she warned.
Prof. Fiador explained that while galamsey may appear to create jobs in the short term, the long-term cost of restoring degraded lands and polluted rivers far outweighs any benefits.
“The net present value is negative in the long run,” she stressed, warning that unchecked galamsey operations threaten both public health and economic stability.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama is scheduled to meet more than 60 civil society organisations on Friday, October 3, to discuss joint strategies for tackling illegal mining.
Source: AdomOnline
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