Michael Adebah, (middle) vice president of the group speaking with the press after the meeting.
A Group calling itself Galamsey Action Group has called on religious bodies to join the fight against Gamalsey that is destroying the country’s water bodies.
Michael Adebaha, Vice President of the Group told DGN Online in an interview that rivers including Ankobra, Pra, Tano, Bonsu, Offin, White Volta, Juen Lagoon and others have been polluted beyond recognition due to galamsey.
He said places like Nkroful, Telekubokazo, Awuku, Salma – Dominasi, Akango, Wassa Dunkwa, Mseaso, Nzema are also seeing irresponsible mining activities right in the middle of the communities.
Presenting a petition to the Chief Imam on behalf of the Group, Mr Adebah said instead of refreshing rivers, there are gullies and pools of mercury and silt contaminated water.
“Children and adults alike have drowned in gullies left uncovered by these irresponsible activities.”
Adding, he said, “unless something drastic is done to curb this menace, we will need to import water for our survival, not counting debilitation diseases that can result from prolonged mercury poisoning.”
The Vice President of Galamsey Action group maintained that the loss of arable lands for the cultivation of cocoa and other cash crops and foodstuffs will only result in untold hardship.
The Personal Assistant to the National Chief Imam, Dr Mohammed Marzuk Abubakar Azindon said His Eminence, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Shaributu believes that life is impossible without the environment and therefore prioritizes environmental issues.
“He, therefore, appealed to all Ghanaians to help this group and any other institution relevant to and interested in fighting environmental degradation.”
On behalf of the National Chief Imam, Dr Marzuk urged Ghanaians to take it as a responsibility to ensure the protection of our environment.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey