17-06-2013
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| Hon Joe Oteng-Adjei Minister ESTI |
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| Ms Loree Semulek, Rep from CIDA |
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| MDCEs |
The Minister of Environment
Science, Technology and Innovation, Joe Oteng –Adjei has warned that government
officials that overlook and connive with individuals and groups to embark on illegal
small scale mining popularly known as ‘galamsey’ will found themselves wanting
when identified. Addressing participants
at the celebration of the World Day to Combat Desertification in Navrongo, the sector
minister also challenged the various
security agencies to clamp down on such illegal mining operators whose activities
are undermining the country’s efforts to protect forest and other natural
resources particularly freshwater resources.
This, he explained should be executed upon the directive of government to halt
the said activities embarked by local and foreign nationals. Mr Oteng-Adjei, therefore advised the MDCEs to
play a watch dog role in exposing illegal miners at their areas of
jurisdiction. He strongly warned that MDCEs
that fail to stop illegal mining operations should consider their positions
vacant since government is serious on the matter. Stressing on the dangers of illegal
mining, Mr Oteng-Adjei, said the use of cyanide and mercury in harnessing gold produces
toxic substances that are harmful to humans,
citing multiple myeloma cancer as one of the deadly diseases that emanates from
toxic exposure of mercury due to its prolong stay on land after its use. According
to him, about 780 million people lack access to clean water whilst, 3.4 million people die each year from water related diseases globally. The figure,
he revealed translates into one person dying
every ten (10) seconds. Such deaths he further lamented were as a
result of water pollution, blaming it on illegal mining operations. He was emphatic that the World Day to combat desertification
and drought which is on the theme: “Don’t let our future dry up’ was awake up call for all to support governments
quest to protecting the country’s land and water resources. He said despite the
gradual depletion of vegetation cover in parts of Northern Ghana, the Upper
East Region in recent times has become
notorious for the pollution of water bodies and called on residents particularly
the youth to complement the effort of EPA in reversing the trend. In a
statement the Executive Director of EPA, Daniel Amlalo, said the world day to combat desertification
and drought has been observed since 1995 to draw attention to the problems of
land degradation and desertification. This among other interventions sought to
promote public awareness on the dangers of drought and desertification on the
environment with focus on sustaining healthy soils as part of Rio-20 and post -2015 sustainable development agenda. He however
implored the public to take action to
promote preparedness and resilience to water scarcity as well as land and water
conservational use. The national event jointly organized by the MESTI and
EPA with support by the Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA) was attended by relevant key stakeholders including chiefs
and selected junior and senior high schools among other government functionaries.
The occasion witnessed the planting of
commemorative trees to mark the beginning
of tree planting in the area.
Story by Isaac Asare GBC, Bolga.
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