Illegal mining an excuse to destroy biodiversity – Daryl Bosu
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Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, Daryl Bosu has said in an interview on Joy News JoyNews’ PM Express has said that the devastation left by miners venturing into the country’s forest reserves endangers water bodies and biodiversity in these areas.
According to him the environmental costs of mining, as well as the well-being of individuals in mining communities, far outweigh any benefits the country receives from the sale of its minerals.
“So if you now think that you can mine your way out of unemployment, so you give out all areas of your land for mining, then you’re actually defeating the purpose for which reason these forests were set up”.
“You see, I think there is a reason why we believe that there is a reason why forest reserves are set up, first, to protect our watersheds, and also serve as places for biodiversity and even help us to regulate the climate where these areas are.”
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He stated that “So we are saying that look, if you’re already mining in certain areas off reserve which has always been the pattern, there is no point we allowing people to go into our forest reserves which are actually protecting our water bodies, protecting our habitats for biodiversity and also helping us to deal with climate change.”
His appeal follows recent reports of babies born with serious defects in galamsey-prone areas.
Some babies are born with extra limbs, missing genitals, missing eyes, or incorrectly positioned eyes, according to a pathologist studying the phenomenon, while others are stillborn.
According to Professor Paul Opoku Sampene Ossei, this is due to the ingestion and inhalation of harmful toxins present in the soil and air as a result of galamsey and other mining activities in these areas.
He urged national action to address the crisis before it worsened.
