A clarion call to President Mahama to hold a ‘National Dialogue on the High-Tech Galamsey’(HTG)

I am making an emotional appeal to H.E. John Dramani Mahama to begin preparations toward holding a ‘National Dialogue on High-Tech Galamsey (HTG)’ like the proposed national dialogue on education and economy captured in the 26 actionable steps to be taken within his first 120 days social contract with the people of Ghana.

The dire situation of the HTG operations requires urgent attention and action from this current government to contain it. The National Dialogue on the HTG operations will elicit answers from Ghanaians to these 3 vital questions, among others and make everyone part of the process of fighting the HTG menace:

1. What is the full extent of destruction caused to our biodiversity-rich forest reserves and water bodies and attendant human and ecological consequences?
2. What stringent plans does the Mahama-led government have to roll out to contain this dangerous and illegal land use practice of HTG activities in mining communities?
3. How do we all, as Ghanaians, want to make sure we completely halt the prevailing HTG operations and restore the devastated forest reserves and rivers for the present and future generations?

The environmental havoc that has plagued our major forest reserves and rivers in mining districts through irresponsible HTG activities under the erstwhile Akufo-Addo regime is highly dangerous to the future of Ghana and should be immediately tackled by this Mahama-Opoku-Agyemang-led government.

Undoubtedly, actions and inactions of the outgone Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led regime showed lack of political will and sincerity in dealing with this dangerous socio-ecological problem. This is part of the numerous reasons why Ghanaians massively voted the Akufo-Addo-led government out on December 7, 2024 and brought in the Mahama-led regime to reset the country for sustainable development.

The point must be made that we cannot have any meaningful sustainable development if national focus is only given to the social and economic pillars while the environmental pillar is neglected or ignored.

In my previous opinions published in the Media space on HTG operations in Ghana, I have itemized some key drivers to the worsening HTG operations and suggested solutions including the 24-Hour Economy Policy of the NDC to be considered (see https://www.modernghana.com/news/1278812/high-tech-galamseyhtg-under-npp-is-devouring.html, 10. December 2023).

I have also recently intimated that the only way this raging HTG phenomenon can be effectively contained would be through a stepwise approach and unwavering political will but not business-as-usual approach (see https://www.modernghana.com/news/1365697/high-tech-galamsey-htg-menace-can-only-be-halted.html, 14. December 2024) as well as using the ‘polluter pays principle’ to curb this man-made environmental problem threatening our very existence as a developing nation (see https://www.modernghana.com/news/1340476/high-tech-galamsey-menace-in-ghana-apply-the.html, 11. September 2024).

While President Mahama has hit the ground running to reset Ghana with his critical initial Ministerial nominations, some key Security appointments, setting up ORAL Committee, requesting the IGP to investigate election-related deaths, dissolution of statutory boards, termination of contracts of MMDCEs, etc. within just 9 days in office, there is also an urgent need to begin looking at the current situation of HTG now.

Like the establishment of the 5-member ORAL Committee to tackle corruption head-on, I would like to sound a rallying call for President Mahama to consider a temporary ‘HTG Committee’ to undertake a brainstorming exercise to provide workable steps for government to contain this worrying HTG phenomenon as soon as practicable.

The damage caused to our natural environment already is so massive that we cannot afford to wait for more months to halt this raging ‘environmental rape’. Like many other Ghanaians, my heart aches to see how our biodiversity-rich forest reserve and aquatic environment being decimated for want of gold money through this irresponsible and greedy HTG phenomenon.

Ghanaians should not be fatigued to continuously talk about this environmental cancer until we collectively find lasting solution(s) to this man-made disaster waiting to explode on our faces. I am almost certain that we know the solutions on how to handle this self-inflicted HTG issue but lacking the political will and leadership to deal with it.

I have no doubt that President Mahama will better fight the ongoing HTG menace than the manner in which the outgone Akufo-Addo-led regime did.

While we wait for Presidential action, we should all be thinking of innovative recommendations for the Mahama-led government to consider regarding the ongoing HTG menace and implement them for the good of all of us.

Apart from all other commendable actionable plans communicated to Ghanaians by President Mahama to 'ban illegal and new mining activities in forest reserves', I suggest he causes a working team to be formed to prepare toward a possible National Dialogue on HTG operations in the country and the way forward like that of the proposed nationwide dialogue on education and economy within Mahama’s first 120 days social contract with Ghanaians.

I am sure President Mahama will contain this dangerous HTG phenomenon as soon as practicable with a timely and all-encompassing approach.

Long Live Ghana!