The Pediatric Society of Ghana has issued a blistering appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to end illegal mining, popularly known as Galamsey, which they describe as a heinous crime against humanity yet unborn.
They argue that the government is fighting for historical justice abroad while allowing a modern poisoning of the next generation at home.
In a statement marking Earth Day, the society warned that prenatal exposure to mercury and arsenic from polluted water is causing irreversible brain damage and neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
The paediatricians are demanding that the President elevate Galamsey to a national emergency and lead a science-driven response to protect the future of the nation.
”The transatlantic slave trade robbed generations of Africans of their future. Galamsey risks doing the same, not through chains, but through poisoned rivers, degraded lands, and stolen potential. If history has taught us anything, it is that crimes against humanity are not defined only by intent, but also by the scale of harm and their generational consequence,” they said in the statement.
The statement from the society demanded among others an elevation of Galamsey to a national emergency of public health and national security concern, lead a coordinated, science-driven, and sustained national response involving health, environment, security, and education sectors.
“[The President should also] protect critical water bodies and forest reserves with uncompromised enforcement, invest in child-centered environmental health surveillance and early intervention systems to screen, diagnose, and urgently treat children with health problems like heavy metal toxicity as part of a broader strategy to mitigate long-term health issues,” the statement continued,” they continued.
The society further called on government to champion this issue globally and position environmental destruction of this nature with the broader framework of crimes against humanity.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
