George Mireku Duker, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has assured Ghanaians that the country's heavily polluted water bodies will be restored to their natural, clean state if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) wins the 2024 presidential and parliamentary election.
According to him, the NPP government would need just three months to rehabilitate the water bodies, which have been severely affected by illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
During a meeting with small-scale miners in the Prestea Huni Valley enclave, he reassured miners that the government would not impose an outright ban on their activities, stressing the importance of responsible mining.
He said "We don't solve a problem while standing in it. We are barely a month and a half away from elections, so there is a lot of propaganda going around. But, God willing, if small-scale miners support us and we retain power on December 7, within three months, the next NPP government will ensure that our water bodies are clean."
Galamsey has become a contentious issue in the country, contributing to widespread environmental degradation, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.
The cocoa industry, a vital component of the national economy, has been particularly hard-hit by these activities, leading to fears about the long-term sustainability of cocoa farming and the livelihoods of millions of farmers.
The impacts of galamsey extend beyond environmental concerns; they also affect public health and safety.
The use of hazardous chemicals in mining processes poses significant health risks to communities, while the destruction of land can lead to conflicts over resources.
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