If there is anything more ruthless than a state of emergency, do it to stop Galamsey – NASPAWAP to govt

The National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers (NASPAWAP) has urged President John Dramani Mahama and his government to adopt an approach even more ruthless than a state of emergency to tackle illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Public Relations Officer of NASPAWAP, Agyapong Ntrah, said the activities of illegal miners have destroyed water bodies, depleted forest reserves, and created a national crisis that cuts across all sectors.

Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Ntrah revealed that players in the water industry have been severely affected, with the impact extending to the pharmaceutical sector.

He acknowledged support for the call to declare a state of emergency but insisted that a harsher approach would be more effective in resolving the menace once and for all.

“Galamsey is a national crisis. We are destroying our water bodies and forest reserves. We are poisoning our environment, and we must not allow this to continue. We are all calling for a state of emergency, but at NASPAWAP, we prefer a more ruthless approach. We should no longer treat these illegal miners with kid gloves. We have to be ruthless and show them no mercy.

“Some claim these illegal miners are engaged in the act because of unemployment. That is insulting. Why should the greed of a few poison our water and destroy our environment? Deploy soldiers and police and let them descend on these illegal miners,” he declared.

Ntrah warned that water treatment costs will continue to rise, which could increase the prices of sachet and bottled water.

He further lamented that Ghanaians have begun to express fear in consuming sachet and bottled water following recent studies into the impact of galamsey on the nation’s water sources, particularly those managed by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).