If Jema Can Do It, Why Can't Other Communities Do Likewise?

Jema stands as the only area within the Aowin municipality which has not been devastated by illegal mining. Why a ren’t we hearing about this, and more importantly, why aren’t those in, or responsible for, galamsey-ravaged areas coming to Jema to find out how it has managed this feat?

Is it because, in spite of our rivers having turned chocolate-brown and our forests being decimated by illegal miners, the general public and the sector duty bearers, do not think we’ve reached the tipping point and must urgently examine and replicate best practice?

Do Ghanaians understand that we are on the verge of an ecological catastrophe?

We face an existential threat from the ongoing ecocide. Over 60% of our water bodies have been polluted and our forest reserves are being decimated. The Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, Daryl Bosu, has warned that at this rate, we could lose Atewa Forest Reserve, a globally significant biodiversity area (GSBA), the habitat of endangered fauna and flora, and the source of water to over 5 million Ghanaians, by the end of the year!

Water is life and losing such a significant source of water should ring alarm bells.

It is of concern that the duty bearers mandated to fight irresponsible mining are not well resourced. For example, the Forestry Commission’s forest guards who are expected to deal with armed environmental criminals - illegal miners, loggers and poachers, do not even have bullet proof vests. A forest guard has been shot and killed this year. The Forestry Commission's request for bullet proof vests is yet to be met. This is of great concern especially as the ongoing ecocide threatens life in our beloved country.

Then, there is NAIMOS, which does not even have patrol boats to deal with environmental terrorists on changfangs, poisoning our water bodies with mercury, cyanide or arsenic.

According to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) the number of kidney disease cases has gone up four times.

Other sources state that there is also a rise in maternal deaths and deformed babies. It is of grave concern that these warning signs have not led to a sense of urgency about addressing the devastation and threat to life.

Water is life, and even in war time, poisoning the source of water is a war crime.

NAIMOS has announced that it will be going after those financing illegal mining. This is welcome and overdue.

The fight against irresponsible mining must include going after the network behind this canker, the financiers, owners or controllers of excavators, and suppliers of fuel.

The Coalition Against Galamsey made this demand a while back and also asked that the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) deal with filling stations providing fuel to environmental criminals.

Knowingly selling fuel to illegal miners should lead to licence revocation and prosecution.

Fuel station operators should ask for evidence of the purpose of fuel purchase for all fuel not discharged directly into a vehicle, where the purchase volume exceeds 20 litres (4 gallons).

The reality is that the fight against irresponsible mining is not yielding the desired results because the commitment to robustly deal with it is lacking.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng says that
"Ghana is not at a crossroads; we are on a roundabout."

He explained that the metaphor refers to a country that repeatedly reaches points where decisions and interventions are required only to return to familiar problems because policies and systems are not sustained.

Jema in the Aowin municipality is a beacon and an example, if we are truly committed to ending the ongoing ecocide. There is no illegal mining in Jema, because its visionary Chief Nana Enoku Annor II and Community Champion Friar Dr Joseph Blay popularly known as Father JB, got the community together and formed JAGA (Jema Anti Galamsey Advocacy) to fight the menace. JAGA conducts regular patrols.

They have been successful in protecting their rainforest and water bodies. Jema has rejected mining and embraced Cooperative Farming. They currently have organic galamsey-free coconut oil for sale.

The question is, If Jema can do it, why can't other communities do likewise? Not many people have heard of Nana Enoku Annor II, but he has with the support of Father JB and JAGA successfully protected Jema's rain forest and water bodies. We are confident that other Chiefs, especially a powerful respected Chief like the Asantehene, who we have all heard of can do likewise.

Ghana is on the verge of an ecological catastrophe and we must act now. The window of opportunity to deal with the ongoing ecocide is closing.

If the Chiefs, local political Authority and the Police come together and say no irresponsible mining, it will be difficult for illegal mining to thrive. There should be Key Performance Indicators for MCEs, DCEs and the Police regarding illegal mining. Complicit Chiefs should be held accountable.

Eco-Conscious Citizens urges HE the President to consider honouring Nana Enoku Annor II, Father JB and Jema with the highest National Award for their sustained and successful resistance to irresponsible mining.

Eco-Conscious Citizens will be honouring Nana Enoku Annor II with its first Chiefs Against Galamsey Award in late November.

Jema has shown the world that the fight against irresponsible mining can be successfully fought if the will to robustly fight it is there.

Once again, I ask: If Jema can do it, why can't other communities do likewise?

Awula Serwah
Executive Director
Eco-Conscious Citizens
[email protected]