Executive Director of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, has questioned the emphasis on protecting the livelihoods of illegal miners while, in her view, insufficient attention is paid to farmers and fishermen affected by environmental degradation caused by illegal mining.
Speaking to Isaac Addae on Morning Starr on Starr FM, she criticised what she described as a lack of concern for the economic hardships faced by communities whose livelihoods are threatened by the destruction of the environment.
“We’re concerned about the livelihood of the criminals, but we’re not concerned about the livelihood of the peasant farmers. We’re not concerned about the livelihood of the fishermen. We’re not concerned about Ghanaians being poisoned,” she said.
Her comments form part of broader concerns about the environmental and public health implications of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, in Ghana.
Awula Serwah warned that the consequences of illegal mining extend beyond the areas where mining activities take place, potentially affecting water resources, food sources and communities that depend on agriculture and fishing for their livelihoods.
READ: Galamsey threatens food safety beyond mining communities – Eco-Conscious Citizens Director
“When you go to the market, do you know where the food is coming from? It could be coming from the galamsey area,” she said.
She also raised concerns about the potential contamination of water bodies by chemicals used in illegal gold mining, including cyanide and mercury, cautioning that the resulting environmental pollution could pose risks to public health.
“When you’re in Accra and the water is coming through your taps, do you know there’s cyanide in it? Because they don’t announce themselves. They are colourless,” she stated.
