Dr Ye-Large gives reasons as to why government may fail again in the fight against galamsey

The problem of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, continues to be a thorn in the flesh of government, individuals and the general puplic as to how to curb this menace.

Over the years, mining communities and people who live along water bodies, have had to deal with the difficulty of getting regular potable drinking water either from their tapes from Ghana Water Company or directly from the water bodies.

Recently, the Ghana Water Company, came out with a worrying message they face in refining water for the public. According to the statement, the turbidity of our water bodies has reached an alraming stage which has affected the company in the number of gallons of water to be produced each day as a result of the indiscriminate activities of galamsey either in our water bodies or along our water bodies.

Though, the government has again decided to embark on a series of determined actions aimed at flushing out these individuals of galamseyers after what others described as a failed attempt in the last four years, this current action seems to restore back the lost hopes the punlic had in the government to successfully succeed in eradicating this menace.

There has been a number of suggestions that have been put forth to win the fight against galamsey, but Dr Ye-Large of Kintampo, beliefs that Ghana may not succeed in its fight if we continue to use the same failed measures preciously adopted. Accordingly, he has given out a number of reasons that impune a meaningful outcome.

These are the Reasons as to why the Galamsey activities will continue even with all the campaign and public outcry against it ;

1. Inability of government to enforce strictly laws protecting lands and water bodies
2. Politicization of Galamsey fight
3. Lack of adequate training for Galamsey operators on efficient mining and processing methods
4. Heavy involvement of some chiefs in Galamsey operations
5. Lack of proper alternative livelihoods for Galamsey operators that may want to change Jobs ( Heavy unemployment rate amongst the Youth in rural Communities )
6. Lack of efficient engagement between government , Galamsey operators and major stakeholders in Galamsey Dialogues and plans
7. Lack of binding laws on Galamsey operators (Not Constitutionally recognized ) to enforce operators to reclaim or remediate depleted mined lands
8. Heavy Involvement of some politicians and opinion leaders in Galamsey activities

If these challenges can be addressed , Ghana can make a breakthrough from these muddy waters