Accra: The Environmental Remediation Forum Ghana (ERF Ghana), an NGO focused on environmental protection, has called upon the chiefs and residents of Assin Bosomadwe in the Central Region to actively oppose any illegal mining activities in their community. The organization emphasized the severe and lasting environmental and health impacts of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, urging the community to stand firm against this menace.

According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Philip Arkhurst, the Founder and Director of ERF Ghana, highlighted the necessity of legal and environmentally responsible mining practices. He warned that illegal mining could devastate forests and contaminate water bodies with harmful substances like cyanide and mercury, posing significant health risks. Mr. Arkhurst linked these activities to a rise in liver and kidney ailments and attributed several deaths to the pollution caused by galamsey.

The Forum’s engagement with the community marked the start of a campaign against illegal mining and harmful agricultural practices, particularly in areas not yet severely impacted by galamsey. Mr. Arkhurst urged community members to report illegal mining activities promptly. He also cautioned against the excessive use of agro-chemicals, which degrade soil fertility and pose health risks, advocating for environmentally sustainable farming practices.

Mr. Abdul Raman, another member of ERF Ghana, informed the community about different farming methods and reiterated the importance of preventing galamsey. Community chiefs accused politicians of facilitating galamsey activities and called for genuine political action to combat the issue. Nana Agyemang Boti Yaw II, the Gyaasehene of Bosomadwe, urged politicians to depoliticize the fight against galamsey and take sincere steps to eradicate it.

Community Elder Ebusuapanyin Kwame Philip expressed concern about the lack of employment opportunities, suggesting that job creation could deter youth from engaging in galamsey. He advocated for the establishment of local factories and called on the government to ban agro-chemical imports to discourage their use by farmers.

He expressed gratitude to ERF Ghana for their educational efforts and encouraged the organization to extend their outreach to more communities to empower them with knowledge and inspire decisive action against environmental threats.