Executive Director of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, has expressed deep disappointment with what she describes as the government’s lukewarm approach to tackling galamsey and its devastating impact on water bodies, eight months into the NDC administration.
Speaking on ABC in the morning, she lamented that the turbidity of major water bodies continues to rise, yet the government has failed to declare a state of emergency.
According to her, the President has backtracked on promises he made while in opposition and is now 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 said.
“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.”
Awula Serwah further stressed the economic and social costs of government inaction.
“We are now going to pay more for water. A lot of fishermen have also lost their livelihood,” she explained, drawing attention to the immediate hardships communities are already facing.
She also highlighted the health implications, warning that “while the number of kidney disease is going up,” many Ghanaians remain unaware of the long-term dangers.
In her closing remarks, she issued a stark warning: “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.”
