Galamsy, The Sad Story Of Kyebi

The number of galamsey operators in Ghana is unknown but it is believed to be around 35,000. They mostly operate in the southern part of the country where they are substantial reserves of gold and other mineral deposits, usually within the operational areas of the big mining companies.

The economic disadvantage galamsey settlements face are usually serious than neighboring agricultural villages. They have high rates of accidents and are usually exposed to the harmful mercury deposit from their crude mining activities.

This practice comes with a lot of dangers and in November 12, 2009 a collapsed illegal mines in Dompoase in the Ashanti Region affected many families. At least 18 workers were killed, including 13 women, who worked as porters for that mines which was described as the worst mines disaster in Ghanaian history.

As a new month dawn and the rains have started, Oppong Kyekyeku of Radio1 news decided to visit some of the towns and villages in Kyebi in the Eastern region of Ghana where our president comes from.

The activities have affected the people of the area. It has been a dark cloud hanging around these small and helpless villages. The mining activities have reached their door steps, creating pits on their compound.

Speaking to Esther Ohemaa, a member of the town, She indicated that the pits has been here for a very long time and is as a result of mining which has led to loss of lives, especially children”. These pits has been the habitant for mosquitoes and we are battling with malaria.

During a visit to commission a water project at kyebi last year, the former President Mahama remarked,”… excuses me to say, Akyem Abuakwa has turned into the headquarters of galamsey in Ghana.

“I came here by air and if you see how the land is being destroyed, it saddens me” and he promised to help them but no help came.

She then appeals to Nana Akuffo Addo to come to their aid or else they have no hope”.

Gold and all minerals in Ghana are precious and need to be mined to support the general good of our country and we cannot sit on Gold and Diamond to eat sand.

The question however is, can’t these pits be covered to stop the deaths and also reduce the incidence of malaria?

Source: radiooneghana.com /Agyapong Michael