The Yellow Army of the Movement for Change and the Alliance for Revolutionary Change have issued an urgent call to address the escalating environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.
The group condemned the ongoing devastation of Ghana’s water bodies, farmlands, and ecosystems, while also criticizing political leaders in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for downplaying the crisis.
In a statement signed by National Youth Leader Duke Aaron Sasu, the group expressed concern over the alarming rate at which illegal mining activities have polluted major rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, and Birim.
The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has struggled to treat water from these sources, with treatment costs rising by 60%, and several plants on the brink of shutting down. In the Ashanti Region, two of the ten treatment plants are expected to close, while the Central Region faces a looming water shortage.
“The White Volta is now showing signs of contamination,” the statement said, further warning of the health risks to communities dependent on the river for drinking water and fishing.
The health repercussions of galamsey have already become evident, with reports of babies in mining-prone areas being born with cognitive impairments and deformities due to exposure to toxic chemicals.
Despite the gravity of the situation, political leaders have engaged in blame-shifting. The Majority Chief Whip’s recent comments, blaming the opposition NDC for the polluted water bodies more than the NPP, were described by the Yellow Army as “irresponsible, divisive, and insulting.” The group lamented the ongoing political rhetoric while illegal mining continues to destroy over 34 forest reserves and further pollute the country’s natural resources.
“The devastation caused by galamsey is a national emergency that requires unity, not political point-scoring,” the group emphasized, calling for urgent bipartisan action.
The Yellow Army praised the efforts of civil society, the media, security services, and religious bodies for pressuring the government to address the illegal mining menace. However, they condemned the inaction of both the NPP and NDC governments, describing their response to galamsey as lackluster and ineffective.
The group urged all Ghanaians, especially the youth, to rise up and demand action. “Our attachment to the NPP and NDC, who have overseen this crisis, must end,” the statement continued. “We cannot afford to remain silent. We are either victims or perpetrators. There is no middle ground.”
Among the key demands made by the Yellow Army is for the government to declare a state of emergency in galamsey-affected regions and immediately restore polluted water bodies while enforcing sustainable mining practices.
In the same breath, the Yellow Army praised Alan John Kojo Kyerematen, founder and leader of the Movement for Change, for his firm stance against galamsey and his proposed policies outlined in his Great Transformational Plan (GTP).
The group highlighted his leadership qualities and described his approach as a model that the current government should adopt.
Among the proposed solutions are stricter enforcement of laws against mining in water bodies, the establishment of licensed small-scale mining companies, and a review of contracts in the natural resource sector to maximize benefits for the country.
The Movement for Change believes that a government of national unity led by an action-oriented leader, like Kyerematen, is the solution Ghana’s youth needs to overcome the galamsey crisis.
“We say to the youth of Ghana: the time to act is now,” the statement concluded.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
