It’s easy to end galamsey, but no one will - Prof. Owusu Addo slams political inaction

Renowned Ghanaian architect and Pan-Africanist, Prof. John Owusu Addo, has expressed concern about illegal mining. This practice, known as galamsey, continues to cause significant damage. He believes there is a lack of political will to address the issue.

In an interview on The Sages on JoyNews, he highlighted the destructive nature of galamsey. Despite its obvious impact, successive governments have not shown commitment to end it.

Prof. Owusu Addo stated that finding solutions to stop galamsey is easy. However, he feels no political party is willing to take action. He warned that even if parties change, the problem will persist without political will.

He emphasized the urgency of the crisis. Continued inaction could lead to irreversible ecological damage. Education alone cannot resolve this issue amid worsening water pollution and environmental degradation.

Prof. Owusu Addo warned that rivers may disappear in 20 years if nothing changes. He mentioned that only the Volta River might remain unaffected while others suffer from gold mining activities.

He believes Ghana's water bodies are at risk due to politicians' indecision. They treat this serious issue lightly, which is very unfortunate.

Ghana's fight against galamsey includes military interventions and public campaigns. However, critics argue these measures lack consistency and effectiveness. Prof. Owusu Addo points out that they often fall victim to partisan politics and vested interests.