Former Education Minister and Bosomtwe MP, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has called for a broader approach to tackling illegal mining, insisting that efforts must go beyond destroying galamsey sites.
According to him, authorities must identify the socio-economic factors driving people into illegal mining and block the “pipeline” that continuously feeds the galamsey industry.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Dr Adutwum said the galamsey crisis requires interventions that provide affected communities, particularly young people and adults without formal education, with viable alternatives.
He said the sight of women, including mothers carrying babies, working at illegal mining sites should compel the country to look beyond enforcement and address the underlying challenges pushing people into the activity.
Dr. Adutwum argued that lack of education or formal employment opportunities should not become a justification for people to resort to illegal mining.
He cited complementary education programmes as an example of how people who missed out on formal schooling could be given opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
“We had complementary education; we train people aged 35 and 40 who have never been to school,” he said.
He therefore called for skills training and alternative livelihood programmes in galamsey-affected communities, coupled with the necessary resources to enable beneficiaries to establish sustainable businesses.
“So when you go to galamsey areas and you say because of education, they can’t have jobs, we must explore alternative livelihoods,” he proposed.
“Give them skill training and provide them with startup kits and resources.”
For children found in or around illegal mining communities, Dr Adutwum said education must also be used as a tool to change their perception of galamsey and expose them to opportunities beyond the mining sites.
He proposed counselling and educational field trips to schools to help children understand the possibilities that education can offer.
According to him, exposing children to well-resourced schools and the learning environment could inspire them to pursue education rather than view galamsey as their future.
“When they see these schools and what goes on there, they would love education and won’t think of going back to galamsey site.”
Dr Adutwum’s comments come amid renewed concerns over the devastating environmental and social effects of illegal mining, with calls for a comprehensive strategy that combines enforcement with education, skills development and alternative livelihoods.
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