Government must make a commitment to end illegal mining - NCCE Chairperson

The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE), Kathleen Addy, has urged the government to demonstrate a firm commitment to the fight against illegal mining activities.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, she stated that government which is made up of elected representatives of the people has the power to ban illegal mining activities in the country.

She explained that the people who have been elected into office must make a clear commitment to fighting the menace.

"It should be absolutely banned, government has the power to do that. Galamsey is not something that started today. So, in order to avoid politicising, we want to say that the people who have led the Fourth Republic should make a commitment We are in the election season; people are looking for votes," Kathleen Addy said.

She entreated the electorates to tie the votes to a commitment to fight illegal mining activities in the country.

'A clear commitment, not two sidedness, saying one thing and saying another. We want to hear commitments from those seeking power that they are committed to the fight and are willing to take actions against it. We want to hear that clearly. I think we haven't heard that clearly, and that is a great source of concern for all of us," she noted.

She called on government to come up with alternative solutions to address the menace.

"Mining is not a bad thing, it's been going on for over 500 years. Mining is not a bad thing. It is the way we do it, the willful poisoning of water bodies, the destruction of forests—now forest reserves as well and those activities are illegal," she noted.

Public discussions on illegal mining began when the Ghana Water Limited (GWL) stated that illegal mining activities and the pollution of the River Pra had made it impossible to supply water to residents of Cape Coast and some surrounding communities in the Central Region.

Watch the video below:

JKB/KA

Watch the latest episode of Everyday People on GhanaWeb TV below: