Vice President of Ghana, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has urged Ghanaians to commit to reversing the devastating effects of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, on the country’s water bodies and soils.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 76th Annual New Year School and Conference at the University of Ghana, she described the environmental damage caused by galamsey as a major hurdle to achieving sustainable development.
“The second P [of sustainable development] calls on us to protect our environment, to be responsible in our production and consumption, and to ensure that we protect and restore our ecosystems,” she stated. “This reminds us of the huge task ahead of us as Ghanaians in reversing the degrading effects of galamsey on our water bodies and soils.”
Professor Opoku-Agyemang emphasized that tackling the galamsey menace requires collective effort and sustainable policies.
She highlighted the need for collaboration between the government, private sector, and local communities to ensure a lasting solution to the crisis.
“We must all be committed to the task of sustaining our planet for generations to come,” she stressed.
The Vice President acknowledged that the illegal mining activities pose significant environmental and social risks to the agricultural sector and called for innovative solutions to address the issue.
“Through thoughtful, sustainable policies and serious collaborations, we can overcome these challenges,” she assured.
She further called on Ghanaians to draw on their resilience to confront the galamsey problem head-on.
“With the collective effort of all Ghanaians, we can and we will attain the five pillars of sustainable development or make huge progress towards it,” she stressed.