Executive Director of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, has taken a strong swipe at President John Dramani Mahama over his latest comments on illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. She expressed disappointment that eight months into the NDC government’s administration, the turbidity of some water bodies continues to worsen without a decisive declaration of a state of emergency.
Speaking on ABC in the morning, Awula Serwah said the President has backtracked on his opposition-era promise to tackle illegal mining head-on and is instead treating the menace with kid gloves.
“It is very, very disappointing for the President to say we need to find livelihoods for the illegal miners, the criminals, before we drive them away,” she lamented.
Awula Serwah stressed that such a posture gives the impression that violence and crime are acceptable if justified by lack of livelihood. “So what you are saying is that it’s okay to kill people because you don’t have a livelihood. It’s okay to rob us because you don’t have a livelihood. This coming from the President, in whom we had hope, is very disappointing,” she said.
She further pointed to the growing socio-economic cost of illegal mining, warning that citizens are already beginning to feel the impact.
“We are now going to pay more for water. A lot of fishermen have also lost their livelihood,” she added.
Awula Serwah also highlighted the increasing health burden associated with contaminated water, noting the rising cases of kidney disease across the country.
“If Ghanaians don’t get up and say enough is enough, I’m afraid the house is burning. The window of opportunity to stop the house from burning will soon be gone,” she advised.
Her remarks add to mounting pressure on the government to take bolder steps in dealing with galamsey, which continues to threaten the nation’s water resources, food security, and public health.
