Give us alternative work – galamseyers appeal to government

Nana Oboadie Bonsu, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen and President of Concerned Farmers Association of Ghana on Friday, met thousands of youth who are into the activities of galamsey at Presentiase near Dunkwa on Offin to assist them to desist from indulging in illegal mining and venture into farming.

Nana Bonsu is on a tour to galamsey sites around the country, to sensitise them on the dangers associated with galamsey and subsequently reintroduced the Government flagship programme Planting For Food and Jobs(PFJ) as the alternate to the galamsey.

The PRO explained that, after he interacted with some galamseyers he ascertained the fact that most of them are stranded without money to transport them back home after the military intensified their operation to halt their activities.

According to Mr. Bonsu, some of these illegal miners are from the three Northern Regions, Brong, Ahafo, Volta and other parts of the country.

“I took them through orientation, taught them the dangers of the pollution of the land,water bodies and the importance of our environment linked to our health”.

He added that a man who gave his name as Kwame Francis, a galamseyer, who spoke on behalf of the group of galamseyers at Presentiase, told him that though they support the Government decision to ban illegal mining, they pleaded with the Government to assist them to go into farming as soon as possible else they can not cater for their families.

Though, they are aware of the implications of their actions on the nation in terms of their activities, their daily income comes from the galamsey activities. Some of them though disagreed with the goverment decision on banning the adage profession, they appealed to the government to provide them with alternative job opportunities so that they can also have their daily bread.