Activities of illegal mining around a water body
As we have been made aware, water is life. That is why, all over the world, water bodies – whether rivers, lakes and lagoons as well as ocean bodies – are considered sacred natural resources and heritages.
It is no wonder, therefore, that in our part of the world where we are blessed with such heritages, it becomes imperative that we fall in step with existing conventions and laws on maintaining our ecology.
Relevant call
So, when the Ghana Water Company Limited calls on the government to sanitize and streamline the activities of illegal miners, in keeping our natural resources sacred, safe and sanctified, we believe that call is in the right direction.
As reported in the Daily Statesman yesterday, the illegal activities of illegal miners in mining communities across the country are culminating in destroying our agricultural potential.
Additionally, they lead to degrading our forests, and worse still endangers the value of water as a source of life for plants and animals as well as domestic and industrial use.
According to the report, which particularly cited a case in the Eastern Region, so bad is the situation that it is making it difficult to process and produce water to serve communities and populations in the region.
As we would admit, the situation becomes more challenging around the lean season when the water volumes or river levels are getting scant.
Ripple effects
Evidently, that has a negative effect on farming and fishing as well as the ability of residents and small and large businesses to access water for domestic and industrial use.
What that means is that jobs, productivity and earnings would be diminished. Also, costs of farming would shoot up because of lack of water. Then, industries, large and small, would be inflicted with unnecessary costs to their operations from the illegal activities of these miners.
Of course, worse still are the health dangers of poisoning, not only of animals and plants but also of humans who live and work in such communities.
Baring teeth at delinquents
Granted that provision of water and electricity are vital ingredients for improving lives and livelihoods in the countryside and also relieving the poor and vulnerable, it becomes imperative that any attempt at stunting such efforts be tackled seriously.
That was why Ghanaians were elated initially when the relevant ministries and agencies of state set up a national task force to fight illegal mining. The hope was that it would enhance agriculture and export and improve lives and livelihoods.
We therefore rejoiced when we saw and heard that Birim, Ankobra and other water bodies were being reclaimed from their degraded state.
Appeal
That is why we wish to add our voice to the call by the GWCL to get government to bare its teeth to save residents and businesses from the hydra-headed woes that the activities of illegal miners are inflicting on communities and the environment.
That big boot is needed, if we must successfully sustain and grow the Planting for Food and Jobs and other initiatives. It is also important in keeping our image as a major food secure nation in the sub-region.
Better still, that intervention is necessary in helping develop infrastructure in such communities to support agribusiness and the creation of jobs in the agriculture value chain.
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