Galamseyers are only the ‘victims of a dishonest system’ – Kobina Nketsia V

pulse-ghana admin 16:37 - 17 May 2017

___6694659___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___6694659___2017___5___17___18___file6uz17mh5o1zcakv5cuo

According to Nana Kobina Nketsia V, the spotlight which is usually on the miners needed to be shifted to the influential individuals who fuel their activities with finances and machinery.

The Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area has called on the government to prosecute powerful people who are behind the activities of illegal small scale mining, commonly known as galamsey.

“The boys we see working in the pits that we think are causing environmental damage, see them in one way as victims of a dishonest system. They themselves don’t know what they are doing. It is the victimizers that we should search for… those victimizers responsible for creating these victims and thereby destroying our future.”

He made the comments at a forum about illegal mining organised by Accra-based Citi FM and the non-governmental group, WACAM Ghana.

Illegal mining has led to the pollution of many of Ghana’s rivers, raising concern about access to potable water in Ghana within the next decade. The media has over the last four months embarked on a strong campaign to force the government to clamp down on illegal small scale mining which has led to the pollution of several of Ghana's water bodies.