UTAG Calls for Immediate Ban on Illegal Mining Amid Environmental Crisis
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has called for an immediate and comprehensive ban on illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, and all forms of mining in forest reserves. UTAG’s demand underscores growing alarm over the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, which has severely impacted Ghana’s water bodies, forests, and agricultural lands.
UTAG’s stance comes amid warnings that Ghana could be forced to import potable water within six years if current mining practices continue unchecked. Cocoa production, a key economic pillar, has plunged by 45% this year, while illegal mining is estimated to drain $2.3 billion annually from the economy.
The Forestry Commission reports that over 2.5 million hectares of forest cover have been permanently lost. Additionally, the Ghana Health Service has noted a 35% increase in respiratory diseases in mining regions, correlating with elevated levels of toxic chemicals such as mercury, arsenic, and lead in the environment.
While mining has been part of Ghana’s economy for decades, UTAG argues that the illegal practices fueling this destruction are driven by greed. The association asserts that past government initiatives, such as Operation Vanguard and Operation Flashout, have largely failed, serving more as economic enablers for political elites and local chieftains than as genuine solutions.
UTAG’s call for a nationwide ban comes alongside a warning that, if the government does not act by the end of September 2024, the association will join with labor unions to launch a nationwide strike. The group also acknowledged efforts by prominent traditional leaders, such as the Asantehene, Otumfuo Nana Osei-Tutu II, to combat galamsey but emphasized that these efforts alone will not suffice.
The association has urged Ghanaians to unite in the fight to safeguard the nation’s natural resources, warning that the future of the country’s environment, agriculture, and public health hangs in the balance. UTAG’s firm stance against galamsey marks a significant escalation in the push for stronger action to address illegal mining.
