We are on the verge of losing the battle against illegal mining as a nation – IFMA Ghana

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Ghana Chapter, has expressed concern about the ongoing and widespread destruction of Ghana’s natural resources, particularly through illegal mining popularly known as ‘galamsey’. 

It said the environmental disaster was wreaking havoc on the country’s forests, waterways, and agricultural land.

Mr Sampson Opare-Agyemang, the President of IFMA Ghana Chapter, in a statement copied to Radiooneghana.com, said as an association focused on sustainable facility and environmental management, “we issue this urgent call to all Ghanaians demanding that galamsey must stop now!

“We are on the verge of losing the battle against illegal mining as a nation. The consequences of our inaction are too dire to ignore. The land, water, and resources we destroy today are the very foundation on which future generations depend and the risks posed by illegal mining are not new to the citizens,” he said.

He said presently every citizen of Ghana had been widely awoken to the damage caused by the galamsey menace, seeing rivers that once teemed with life now turned into toxic sludge, while forests that provided clean air and biodiversity become barren wastelands.

“Our country’s agricultural lands, vital for food production and livelihoods, have been devastated due to the short-term financial gains from galamsey operators, at the expense of long-term sustainability, threatening the very survival of our economy, our communities, and our future generations,” the statement said.

The statement said the long-term negative effect of the menace included the loss of water bodies, which served as the lifeblood for millions of Ghanaians and other countries, due to the heavy metal contamination, loss of arable lands and forests to illegal miners, leading to food insecurity and intensified climate change crisis.

It urged Ghanaians against being divided by their political differences in the fight against illegal mining, stating that the devastation caused by galamsey affected every Ghanaian regardless of their political affiliation, tribe, or social status.

“…Now is the time to put aside our political colours and unite for the common good. The fight against galamsey must be a collective effort. Every institution, every citizen, and every leader must take ownership of this battle if we are to succeed,” it said.

The statement called for immediate and intensified action by all to address the situation, while IFMA Ghana reaffirmed its commitment as custodians of the natural environment, and to advocate for the sustainable management of Ghana’s resources.

“We will continue to work with the government, civil society, and local communities to promote responsible mining practices, reforestation projects, and environmental restoration initiatives.

It said while applauding the media for its outstanding work in exposing the horrors of galamsey and drawing attention to an issue that threatened the country’s very survival, it urged it to sustain the momentum.

It encouraged the media to rise as watchdogs of society, keeping this issue at the forefront until the expected change was realised.

Source: Radiooneghana.com