President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu, has raised alarm over the growing participation of professionals, including teachers, nurses, and doctors, in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Mr. Carbonu described the situation as a tragic reflection of Ghana’s worsening moral and economic crisis.
According to him, the country has reached a point where the struggle for survival has driven people from almost every profession into galamsey, despite its devastating environmental impact.
“Ghana still remains a poor and challenged country. We’ve destroyed everything, even water, which is fundamental to life. Sadly, some nurses, doctors, and teachers are now involved in galamsey,” he lamented.
Mr. Carbonu revealed that in parts of the Western and Eastern Regions, some teachers have turned illegal mining into an investment venture, with others taking personal loans to fund their participation.
“People now take loans of ₵20,000 or ₵30,000 just to invest in galamsey. It’s no longer the preserve of the unemployed; professionals are complicit,” he said.
He blamed the situation on what he described as a “contaminated mindset” and an inordinate desire for wealth that has blinded many Ghanaians to the long-term damage being caused to the nation’s resources.
“Even some children encourage their parents to sell their homes and join galamsey. It shows how deeply this greed has taken root,” he noted.
Mr. Carbonu added that while some have suggested extreme measures such as a “shoot-to-kill” policy to curb illegal mining, such approaches will not work unless the national mindset changes.
“No government can fully control Ghanaians when our desire for quick wealth keeps growing. We need a moral and mental reset, not just policy enforcement,” he concluded.
Source: Gertrude Otchere
ALSO READ:
- EPA, 4 others receive 24 vehicles and 250 motorbikes to clamp down on galamsey
-
Landlord arrested for selling house to galamsey operators in Osino
