The Israeli ambassador to Ghana, Ami Mehl, has commended the Akufo-Addo-led government over its resolve to fight illegal mining popularly known as ‘galamsey.’
He said he is fully behind the national crusade against the menace which has threatened water bodies and forest reserves.
According to him, Israel is “fully behind Ghana in this fight” and expressed its readiness to help with assistance to protect the environment.
“I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the government and the good people of Ghana for their determination and resolve to tackle the issue of illegal mining (Galamsey) in the country…
“Being blessed with such a beautiful country, it behooves us to protect and preserve the environment for future generations. It is my opinion that the exploitation of one natural resource should not become a death sentence to forests, water bodies and the life they support,” Ambassador Mehl emphasised in a statement to the media.
He added: “Coming from a country that for many decades suffered existential threats due to water shortages, I hope that Ghana does not find herself facing a water crisis in the future.
“As Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ghana and a former Tour Guide at the Society for Protecting the Nature in Israel, I wish to state my unalloyed support to campaign against illegal mining and the fight to protect Ghana’s forests and water bodies. The State of Israel is fully behind Ghana in this fight, and is ready to support the nation recover from the environmental degradation.
“I commend the Ghanaian media for coming together and joining forces with various institutions in championing the fight against Galamsey. I believe that with the political will and support from all and sundry, Ghana will overcome the Galamsey menace.”
A three-week ultimate to illegal miners to seize operations expired this week with over 500 excavators moved from forest reserves. The government has served notice it will resort to armed combat to flush out recalcitrant illegal miners.
