Galamsey, the sad story of the Oda forest Reserve.

Story by: Listowell Yesu Bukarson

Galamsey is a local artisanal gold miner here in Ghana. In neighboring francophone countries such workers are known as “orpailleurs”. Galamseys are people involved in gold mining independent of mining companies by digging small pits, tunnels and sluices, most ly by hand

Generally the galamseys can dig only to a limited depth, far shallower and smaller than commercial mining companies. Under current laws in Ghana, it is illegal for galamseys to dig on land granted to mining companies as concessions or licenses. Most galamseys find gold in free metallic dust form or they process oxide or sulphide gold ore using liquid mercury.

The number of galamseys in Ghana is unknown, but it is believed to be between 20,000 to 50,000.They mostly operate in the southern part of the country where there are substantial reserves of gold deposits, usually within the environs of the larger mining companies. As a group, they are economically disadvantaged; galamsey settlements are usually poorer than neighboring agricultural villages. They have high rates of accidents and are exposed to mercury poisoning from their crude processing methods. Many women are among the workers, acting mostly as porters for the miners.

In some cases, galamseys are the first to discover and work extensive gold deposits before mining companies find out and take over. Galamsey workings are an indicator of the presence of gold.

This practice comes with a lot of dangers. On November 12, 2009 a collapse occurred in an illegal, privately owned mine in Dompoase, Ashanti Region. At least 18 workers were killed, including 13 women, who worked as porters for the miners. Officials have described the disaster as the worst mine collapse in Ghanaian history. Only yesterday www.myjoyonline.com reported that one person had died while two others got injured after a galamsey pit in which they were digging for gold caved in at Ehyireso, Prestea in the Western Region.

The incident which occurred over the weekend was blamed on the involvement of some chiefs and land owners in the community.

In my career as a journalist, I have never been opportuned to tour a galamsey site before. And so when on Monday, 1st September, 2014, I got an invitation from the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council to join the Regional Security Council, made up of the Regional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Kofi Boakye, the Commander of the Northern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier J.A Boampong, the Commanders of the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Immigration Service and led by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Dr. Samuel Sarpong, I accepted the invitation without hesitation.

This was a long awaited opportunity for me to have a feel of the true story of galamsey and its much trumpeted setbacks to Mother Nature.

And so at 8:00am on Tuesday, 2nd September, I joined the media bus at the RCC and off we left for the Oda Forest Reserve which borders the two political Districts of Amansie South and Amansie Central in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

The 164.43 square kilometers forest reserve is made up of 80% within Amansie Central District with its capital as Jacobu and 20% within Amansie West District with Manso Nkwanta as its Capital.

After close to four hours drive with the convey thanks to the poor nature of the road, it came to light that the Adansi South District NADMO Coordinator, Robert Gyamase had teamed up with some illegal miners to engage in the galamsey activities in the area. His alleged activities had destroyed over eight (8) hectors of the Oda Forest Reserve.

Timber had been cut down; trees had been raised down indiscriminately, water bodies destroyed, the land dug deep down the ground in sheer desire to illegally mine the land at the expense of the forest reserve. It was so pathetic and disgusting to see how bad the forest reserve had been destroyed.

One wondered how such a massive exercise that covered eight (8) hectors of the forest reserve could be destroyed without the knowledge of the Forest Commission, Lands Commission, Chiefs and people of the area, District Chief Executive Officer, the District Security Council and the Regional Security Council.

The Ashanti Regional Minster, looking dejected and shocked at the extent of devastation to the Forest reserve immediately ordered the arrest of Mr. Gyamse for investigations and possible prosecution. This he said will serve as a deterrent to other leaders who are involved in any way possible in galamsey.

When the press confronted Hon. Sarpong with allegation that government officials, politicians and powers that be from all walks of life are involved in one way or the other in the galamsey operations, he retorted, “if anybody receives any threat from any government official, so far as this issue is concerned, it should be reported to me and action would be taken.”.

He emphasized that the mining operation at the site was illegal because, the owner of the site who was not immediately known “has been operating without a license”.

Adding that, “This is a forest reserve and it’s not possible that the place would be given to someone to operate mining. It’s not possible. It’s illegal,”

He assured that, “We will win the war even though it’s an arduous task”

“We are leaving no stone unturned in the fight against the galamsey activities in the Region”. He added.

Even though the Minister expressed profound concerns and assured of pragmatic measures at arresting the situation, one wonders whether indeed leadership in the villages and towns where galamsey operations are undertaken are watchdogs enough to protect the land. Am skeptical if they are, because in the case of the illegal mining at the Oda Forest Reserve, the operators seemed to have spent appreciable time settling in the area before embarking on these heinous galamsey actitivities.

They had mounted temporal structures, stocked it with food stuff in three deep freezers, two fridges, gas cookers, and all one needs to be comfortable in a home.

They had also illegally extended electrical power to their “home”.

I kept asking how all of these preparations could go on without the connivance of leaders and powers that be.

Folks, a lot have been said about galamsey and its accompanying setbacks on our land, and I think it’s time for leadership to act rather than continue to pay lip service to the people.

The site of the devastation of the Oda Forest Reserve is an eyesore.

It epitomizes the bad side effect of galamsey and so the earlier we responded spontaneously towards the fight against it without fear or favor the better for our future as a country.

Whiles congratulating the Ashanti Regional Security Council, led by the Regional Minister, Hon. Dr. Samuel Sarpong, I wish to call on traditional leaders and political decision makers to make it a priority of fighting this deadly activity of galamsey in this country.

The Galamsey activity, the story of the Oda Forest Reserve, is for me, a very sad one indeed.

Writer is a Freelance Political and Sports Journalist.

Chairman, the Ghana Journalists Association, Ashanti.

Lbukarson76@yahoo.com

0244-831631.