The Ghana Bar Association has expressed deep concern over reports of the country’s importation of excavators, worth GH₵6.2 billion in 2024, which ranks third in the country’s import bill.
According to the President of the GBA Mrs. Efua Ghartey, this raises questions about the purpose of importing such huge numbers of excavators, especially considering the devastating impact of illegal mining on the environment.
The GBA highlighted that the fight against galamsey is not just about gold, but about governance, the rule of law, and the future of Ghana.
The association emphasized that the challenge lies not in the lack of regulations but in the failure of enforcement.
“This fight against Galamsey is not about gold. It is about governance, it is about Ghana, the need for sustained committed leadership. It is about whether the Rule of Law will prevail in Ghana or whether institutional inertia will continue to cripple us,” she said.
The GBA President questioned the thriving businesses in Ghana that require such massive importation of excavators, stating, “What thriving business in Ghana requires the importation of such huge numbers of excavators?”
The association emphasized the moral duty of lawyers to speak out against entrenched interests hiding behind status and privilege, contributing to the menace of galamsey.
The importation of excavators has significant environmental implications, with many being used for illegal mining activities that cause deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution.
The GBA stressed that the rivers and forests of Ghana cannot speak, but lawyers, as guardians of justice, must raise their voices on their behalf.
“As I coast to the end of this address, respectfully two urgent national issues are worthy of mention, illegal mining referred to as galamsey and for emphasis, some treatment received by lawyers providing services to clients.
“On the much-vexed issue of illegal mining, reviewing the existing laws, our challenge is not a lack of regulation, but a failure of enforcement.
“This fight against Galamsey is not about gold. It is about governance, it is about Ghana, the need for sustained committed leadership.
“It is about whether the Rule of Law will prevail in Ghana or whether institutional inertia will continue to cripple us.
“We were informed by a recent media report that Ghana imports the highest number of excavators in West Africa and the second highest number in all of Africa. If indeed that is the case, one may ask: What thriving business in Ghana requires the importation of such huge numbers of excavators?
“If entrenched interests hide behind status and privilege, then we, as lawyers have a moral duty to strip away the impunity that shields them.
“The rivers of Ghana can not speak. The Forests cannot speak, but we as guardians of Justice must raise our voices on their behalf,” she said.
Source :www.kumasimail.com
