The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, has called on government to adopt stiffer regulations to guard the mining industry in order to curb the destruction of farm lands by illegal miners in rural areas.
According to the FAO, the practice is having a dire effect on the country’s economy.
This follows reports that the activities of illegal miners in the Wassa Amenfi East and West districts of the Western Region, led by Chinese nationals, are threatening food security in the twin districts.
Speaking to Citi News, the Country’s Representative for the organization, Dr. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, said illegal mining affects the sustainable management of the environment, livelihood of the citizenry and the economy at large.
“It is linked to sustainable management of the environment. It is also linked to the livelihood of the people and also the economy of Ghana. The fact that it is illegal says it all. It has a big market and a regulated market.It has powerful networks and because it is not regulated there is a lot of waste of resources and leakages and therefore there has to be a regulation. It is not a policy framework that is lacking , I think the problem has to do with weaker enforcement of the existing regulations.”
Illegal mining has come to the fore in the past month following the shutdown of the Kyebi treatment plant and the threat of same to other water treatment plants.
This is due to the galamsey-related pollution of the major sources of water for consumption in the Rivers Pra, Ankobra, Birim, Tano among others.
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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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