Mahama gov’t repeating Akufo-Addo-era mistakes in galamsey fight – Erastus Asare Donkor
Investigative and Environmental Journalist at the Multimedia Group Limited, Erastus Asare Donkor, says the John Mahama administration is repeating many of the approaches used by the previous Akufo-Addo-led government in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Erastus Asare Donkor, investigative and environmental journalist at the Multimedia Group Limited, has criticized the John Mahama administration for repeating the same mistakes as the Akufo-Addo government in its fight against illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey. Despite some progress made by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), Donkor asserts that the current government's approach lacks the necessary force and resources to combat the scale of environmental destruction caused by galamsey.
During a discussion on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Donkor said that the government has merely adopted a slightly different strategy under the current leadership without making substantial changes to their actions. He emphasized that for a government genuinely committed to ending illegal mining, it must deploy all available resources to effectively address the issue.
Donkor compared the situation to a military strategy, arguing that a proper understanding of the threat is crucial for defeating an enemy. He lamented that personnel assigned to combat illegal mining often lack the basic resources required to operate effectively, such as pick-up vehicles, equipment, canoes, logistics, and funding for fuel and personnel stationed in remote areas.
Donkor further revealed that even when requesting resources, officers sometimes had to beg for small amounts that were eventually depleted. He warned that the seriousness of the issue is not being seen, leading to a lack of progress. Donkor highlighted the importance of documenting environmental destruction to raise awareness among future generations.
He stated that his duty is to expose the destruction of forest reserves due to illegal mining, as he feels it is his responsibility to document such issues. He cited specific locations like Tano Anwia, Tano Nimri, Yor Yor, Boi River, and the Jimera Extension, where consistent reporting has helped keep illegal mining activities in the public eye.
Donkor expressed hope for the Ghana Gold Board's efforts to reclaim 50 hectares of affected forest, but he also pointed out that a significant portion of the 192 hectares destroyed remains unrecovered. Despite these successes, he cautioned that new methods of illegal mining threaten the progress made in protecting forest reserves.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
