NewzConvener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, Dr Ken Ashigbey, says Ghana has failed to honour the memory of the eight people who died in last year’s helicopter crash while travelling to support efforts against illegal mining. He says the country’s continued struggle with illegal mining, despite the sacrifices made by those who died, raises serious questions about its commitment to the fight against galamsey. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, Dr Ashigbey said illegal mining continues openly in areas where state institutions are expected to enforce the law.
“How dare all of us that you have in a year, a police station overlooking a river where galamsey is taking place, and we allow that to happen. How dare all of us that we have these people die?” He cited several locations where illegal mining activities, he said, continue despite efforts to curb the practice. “Ask Erastus Asare Donkor what we are calling the responsible mining that they were going to launch when he speaks to a man who is mining in a waterway by the Bekwai road, just by the road, and nothing is happening to him.” Dr Ashigbey also pointed to the situation along the Bonsu-Enyinem-Osino stretch, where he said illegal mining continues openly.
“How dare all of us that on the road from Bonsu through Enyinem, through Osino, and hidden in clear sight, people are just doing these things with reckless abandon.” He said the failure to make meaningful progress in the fight against galamsey means the country may not have done enough to honour those who died in the line of duty. “So for me, unfortunately, including myself, I’m not too sure we’ve honoured them.” Dr Ashigbey said the concerns extend to the country’s water resources, accusing authorities of failing to provide regular information on water quality despite calls for greater transparency. “One of the asks that we had as civil society of the President, which he told us was going to happen, is the fact that they were going to publish the water quality results on a monthly basis.” He said the continued pollution of water bodies was already affecting water treatment operations.
“But we can tell you that if you go to Kyebi currently, the water treatment plant is shut. It is because the turbidity of water you can’t you can you can’t operate it because what will go into it will be sludge.” Dr Ashigbey said the situation requires… His comments come as Ghana marks a year since eight people, including senior military and government officials, died in a helicopter crash while travelling to a programme linked to the fight against illegal mining.
Dr Ashigbey said the continued destruction of water bodies and illegal mining activities a year after the tragedy raises serious questions about Ghana’s commitment to the fight. How dare all of us that we have these people die?” He cited an incident of illegal mining along the Bekwai road as further evidence that the problem persists despite repeated promises to tackle it. “And let me give you another example in what you just said.
One of the ask that we had as civil society of the President, which he told us that was going to be happening, is the fact that they were going to publish the water quality result on a monthly basis.” According to him, the failure to regularly publish water quality data prevents citizens from knowing the condition of the water they consume.
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