Declare State Of Emergency On Galamsey …CCCFS To Govt

We Never Promised To Release Provisional Voters Register In A Week -EC

The Centre for Climate Change and Food Security (CCCFS) has added its voice to the growing voices of conscience against galamsey.
“CCCFS, a civil society organisation, has in the past, advocated strongly against galamsey – but clearly, our advocacy and that of many others, has not yielded the needed results. Ghana is teetering into a ecological catastrophe that will have dire consequences for the socioeconomic well-being of Ghana and Ghanaians.
At this rate, Ghana is likely going to be inhabitable for humans in the next few years – since all the basic essentials for sustaining human life is being destroyed by galamsey. Already, we have seen signs of a bigger problem to come – with babies being born with strange deformities, waterbodies drying up, forest reserves being permanently lost, soils and waterbodies being poisoned with heavy metals like arsenic, mercury, etc. Even though the problem has drenched deep, we can still salvage the situation if immediate and decisive steps, influenced solely by an ultimate national, rather partisan political interest, are taken to stop the monstrosity.
It is unspeakable to think that the State, with its enormous powers, cannot stop this dangerous phenomenon that threatens the very existence of Ghana as a viable nation state. We urge civil society organisations to mobilise themselves into strong voices and demand from the politicians to openly condemn galamsey without any buts and ifs. In particular, CSOs should wage a relentless and potent war on government until it acts swiftly and decisively on this matter. Further, we call on international organisations to hold the government accountable for its lukewarm handling of this menace. Labour unions should join this crusade and declare industrial actions when necessary until government acts.
Also, it’s important to caution the youth, and those involved in galamsey, who use unemployment as a pretext to engage in it, to note that the very things they are destroying for gold are irreplaceable.
No amount of earnings can replace water, soil, air, food, etc. So, while those involved may be getting an immediate gratification, the long term negative impact of their actions far outweigh their paltry benefits. Thus, we implore the youth to turn to other ventures that are more sustainable for income, and desist from engaging in galamsey – which is nothing but a ticking time bomb. Chiefs, community youths, amongst others, should step up efforts to confiscate lands and equipment of galamseyers, since they are the first to bear the brunt of the destruction caused by galamsey. Citizens must demand NPP and NDC to openly declare their stance on galamsey. In short, there must a conscious class action, civil disobedience, positive defiance, amongst other legitimate means to combat the canker.
We call on government to declare a STATE OF EMERGENCY immediately, and approach the issue with an iron fist of the law. Anymore dillydallying will exacerbate the already dire situation, and fast track our irreversible acceleration to doom. The situation at our hand is existential, and one minute more delay could be the tipping point. Ghanaians must move to STOP galamsey, otherwise galamsey will STOP Ghana!

Tags: Ghana News

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