Ongoing galamsey fight requires genuine national effort

With all due respect to genuine environmentalists and patriots, the ongoing fight against illegal mining, known as "galamsey," appears to have taken a political tone, spearheaded by certain factions aiming to salvage the dwindling fortunes of the NDC ahead of the 2024 elections.

The reality is that the fight against galamsey cannot be won in just three months. It requires a long-term, strategic, and sustained effort over many years to achieve meaningful results. Any suggestion that this issue can be resolved within such a short time frame is most likely a political manoeuvre.

The NDC’s current anti-galamsey efforts, claiming to bring an end to the issue within a few months, can only be seen as a political tactic. Those seeking to influence the upcoming elections by backing this "quick fix" approach are aligning with political motives rather than genuine environmental reform.

The NPP, in its previous galamsey fight, faced significant political backlash, while the NDC stood by those engaged in the activity and gained political advantage. During that time, unions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and other relevant stakeholders remained silent, not calling out the NDC's position.

To tackle galamsey effectively, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involving all relevant stakeholders – including the two major political parties and traditional leaders – is needed. A bipartisan consensus is the only path to real success in this battle. This national crisis should be handled with a natural resources management policy devoid of partisan influence.

No political party can effectively fight galamsey while the opposition benefits from supporting the activity, gaining votes in the process. Genuine environmentalists agree that we need a united front to address this issue.

Regarding the Trades Union Congress (TUC), its recent threats of strikes relating to the galamsey fight appear to be encroaching on political territory where they have no standing. It is hoped that the courts will take swift action to prevent any undue political interference in the galamsey debate.

This is not a fight for one party; it is a national crisis that requires long-term commitment and genuine leadership across the political spectrum.