INSTEPR Boss Calls for 10-Year Jail Term for Owners of Excavators Used in Galamsey
Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Policies and Research (INSTEPR), Kwadwo Poku, has proposed the imposition of a minimum 10-year jail sentence for owners of excavators found complicit in illegal mining activities, otherwise known as galamsey.
According to Mr Poku, despite numerous efforts by successive governments over the past 16 years to curb the menace, galamsey activities have worsened, largely due to the use of excavators, which have accelerated the destruction of Ghana’s forests and water bodies.
“Galamsey has been occurring in Ghana for over 150 years, in the past, our brothers in the mining areas used hoes and pickaxes to load soil into sacks and bring it home to wash for gold. It was a menace, but nothing compared to what these excavators do,” he stated.
Mr. Poku stressed that unless bold and decisive measures are taken to hold the financiers of illegal mining accountable, particularly the owners of excavators, the fight against galamsey would remain ineffective.
“If the president and parliament are serious about stopping galamsey, they should pass a law that imposes a 10-year jail sentence on owners of excavators used in illegal mining. This would deter potential sponsors and drastically reduce excavator used at illegal sites,” he asserted.
He maintained that criminalizing the sponsors and financiers behind galamsey operations is the only way to ensure meaningful and lasting results in the fight against illegal mining.
The call by the Executive Director of INSTEPR comes amid renewed national discussions on how to effectively tackle the galamsey menace, which continues to threaten the country’s environmental sustainability, food and water security.
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