Ghana Journalists Network on Mining, Oil and Gas (GJNMOG) has expressed concern over the ever increasing of illegal mining popularly known as galamesay and the government inability to put in place stringent measures to crack down their activities.

According to GJNMOG, looking at the rate the activities of these illegal miners is destroying the environment, if nothing is done to stop them now the situation will be worsen some years to come.

The National President of GJNMOG, Raphael Godlove Ahenu Junior was speaking to newsmen when he visited some galamesay sites at Maabang and Akwasiase in the Ahafo North District of Ashanti to familiarize himself with activities of galamesay operators.

He lamented about the involvement of foreigners, especially Chinese and some traditional leaders in the galamesay activities and their continues pollution of water bodies which serve as source of drinking water for many rural communities as well as destruction of arable lands for agricultural purposes.

According to him, mining and its associated social, environmental and economic problems have become important developmental challenge.

Mr. Ahenu Junior underscored the indispensable role of the environment to life, and the need to conserve and preserve it.

The GJNMOG President said looking at the gaps that exists in the environmental legislation, the various health and environmental issues associated with mining, there is the need for comprehensive environmental governance and the responsibility of government to ensure environmental justice.

He is therefore calling on government to review, repeal and amend the existing environmental and mining laws to ensure stronger implementation. He further urged government to adopt and internalize international protocols which seek to protect the environment and better the living standards of all communities in mining areas.

Mr. Ahenu Junior said in order to get political parties to include environmental and mining issues in their campaigns, GJNMOG will create platform for politicians to explain to the electorate their plans on how to address mining and environmental concerns.

GJNMOG, he again said will organize outreach programmes to sensitize community members on mining and environmental issues to build their capacities to ask politicians questions related to mining and environmental issues during their campaign tours.