Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, has praised the Abuakwa South Municipal Assembly and security agencies for their recent decisive actions against illegal mining activities in the constituency.
Despite the commendation, he stressed that the fight against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, must be sustained and not fade into a temporary effort
In a press statement titled “A CRY FOR OUR BIRIM RIVER AND OUR PEOPLE: THE TIME TO END GALAMSEY IN ABUAKWA SOUTH IS NOW,” Dr. Agyemang highlighted the severe environmental damage caused by galamsey, particularly its impact on the Birim River.
“For months now, I have watched with deep sorrow as the soul of Abuakwa South bleeds,” Dr. Agyemang remarked.
He revealed that the Ghana Water Company Limited has been struggling for over three months to operate the Kyebi Water Treatment Plant, which supplies clean water to Kyebi and the broader municipality.
“The Birim River, once the pride and lifeline of our people, has turned into a thick sludge of poison. Its turbidity now stands at 64,000 NTU, a level so dangerously high that the water is untreatable and unsafe for human use,”he explained.
He expressed concern for thousands of constituents who have suffered from lack of access to clean water, describing water as essential to life itself.
“And when water is life, the absence of it is the absence of life itself, the Mp added.
The MP mourned the transformation of the Birim River from a vital resource into “a thick sludge of poison.”
Dr. Agyemang also condemned the involvement of foreign nationals in the illegal mining operations, noting that their actions harm not only the environment but also the community’s peace and social stability.
He stated “What breaks my heart even more is that many of those involved in these illegal mining activities are foreigners from neighbouring countries. Their actions are not only destroying our natural environment but also undermining the peace, safety, and moral fabric of our society.”
The MP linked the rise in crime, drug abuse, and social unrest to these destructive activities, which threaten the foundations of society.
He further emphasized that the consequences of galamsey extend beyond environmental degradation.
“The impact of galamsey goes beyond our rivers. It is poisoning our farms, crippling cocoa
production, weakening our health systems, and robbing our children of their education. When our rivers are dead, our farms unproductive, and our schools empty, we lose not only our livelihood but also our future,” he stated.
Dr. Agyemang issued a strong call to action to all institutions involved in the criminal justice system including the police, prosecution service, judiciary, and environmental agencies to enforce the law rigorously and without bias.
“The law must bite, and it must bite hard,” he stressed firmly.
He vowed that those profiting from environmental destruction, whether citizens or foreigners, must face legal consequences.
Dr. Agyemang indicated “Those who profit from the destruction of our environment, whether local or foreign, must be made to face the full rigours of the law.”
While commending ongoing efforts, the MP warned against complacency.
“The measure of true success will not be in press briefings or temporary raids, but in the restoration of clean water, the return of our farmlands, and the rejuvenation of our communities,” he said.
Dr. Agyemang appealed to traditional leaders, youth groups, opinion leaders, churches, and citizens to unite in combating galamsey.
He described the fight as a moral and existential struggle transcending politics, vital for protecting the survival of Abuakwa South and future generations.
“This is not a political battle. It is a moral and existential one. We are fighting for our survival, for our children, and for generations yet unborn.”
Concluding his statement, the MP said, “The Birim River must live again. For without water, there is no life, and without life, there is no future.”
Source: www.Kumasimail/Kwadwo Owusu
