(SPECIAL REPORT)
DESPITE THE POTENTIAL OF ARTISANAL MINING FOR IMPROVING THE LIVELIHOODS OF INDEGINOUS PEOPLE IN GHANA AND OTHER RESOURCE RICH AFRICAN COUNTRIES, A GNAWING QUESTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE EXTENT TO WHICH IT HAS AFFECTED THE ENVIRONMENT, LIVELIHOODS, AND ASSOCIATED RESULTANT CONSEQUENCES...
November 4th 2024, Morkwaa, a farming community near Twifo Praso in Ghana's central region, residents witnessed a gruesome morbid scene when the lifeless bodies of two and-a-half-year-old twins was retrieved from an abandoned water filled Galamsey pit.
Two months prior, the lifeless body of a three year old was found in an illegal mining pit.
Correspondingly, the Ghana Water resources Commission has revealed that over 60% of the country's water resources has been contaminated with mercury and heavy metals.
A PERSISTING NITEMARE
What started out as small-scale mining along with regulated schemes introduced by the government, with the intent to license and rope in individuals in resource rich communities, ( who certainly cant butt heads with established mining giants), has degenerated into something almost unsalvageable and damaging to say the least.
In one breath, natural resources, considered a blessing to nations privileged to wield its essence and worth, is for the most part considered a poisoned chalice and blight on what could have been a treasure of revolutionizing proportions.
Notoriously referred to as Galamsey by locals, illegal mining has assumed an all consuming pestilence like engagement, on a scale so vast and environmentally degenerating, as to inflame and touch the nerve fiber of Ghanaians, and the country's political landscape like never before.
Alluding to the paradox of the situation, two American economists, Jeffery Sachs and Andrew Warner commented, and I quote..
"COUNTRIES RICH IN NATURAL RESOURCES TEND TO PERFORM BADLY IN THEIR ECONOMIES"
And while many experts are trying to ferret the seeming irony behind the phenomenon, literally threatening to disrupt and by extension ruin the environment and life's of citizens in this country, a greater threat looms.
DIGGING FOR LIFE
Securing ones bread and batter is an innate need of everyone, especially so in this resource blessed territory of West Africa. Despite this competitive advantage, poor management, lack of sound planning, and economic desperation, has driven and emboldened these actors to throw all caution of environmental and health consequences to the winds.
The presence of foreign actors directly engaging in, or conniving with locals, has added a twist of sophistication and intrigue directly implicating political big wigs in a stunning turn of betrayal and despair.
Some of these players set up illegal mining camps right on water bodies with absolutely no regard to environmental and health implications. A study by The African Center For Economic Transformation has identified the destruction of farmlands, and its impact on food security, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, land degradation, deforestation, and diverted waterways as crucial impacts of illegal mining activities.
Take the classic case of Aisha Huang (Galamsey queen), posited to have wielded huge illegal mining sites in the rural areas. In 2017, Aisha Huang was charged with illegal mining offences committed between February, 2015 and May, 2017. On 19th December 2018, the attorney general of Ghana entered "nolle prosequi" leading to a termination of the trial. Aishia Huang however found her way back into Ghana, and was rearrested on 2nd September in Kumasi. Offenses leveled against her included; Undertaking a mining operation without a license, and facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation without a license.
Despite the prohibition of foreigners from Ghana's small scale mining sector, some unscrupulous actors get around this provision by initially providing mining support services, which subsequently and gradually transcends to encompass collaboration and partnership arrangements, and even in some cases, full operational ownership by these foreigners.
"...OUR LEADERS ARE EITHER BLIND, USELESS, OR INSENSITIVE TO THE POINT OF STUPIDITY". A LOCAL RESIDENT, WHO PLEADED ANNONIMITY, Â HOWLED IN DISGUST DURING OUR INTERVIEW!...
Interestingly and quite disturbingly, these illegal mining deals tend to be negotiated at the local level, involving actors within customary land institutions. With miners, local chiefs, politicians, and local leaders usually at the forefront of these illegal arrangements.
As a sign of his personal concern and commitment to stumping the menace , Ghana's revered Asante King, Asantehene, Otumfuo, Osei Tutu II, des-tooled three chiefs in the Ashanti region for their involvement in illegal mining.
Top state officials, party financiers, and high ranking politicians, have been fingered as accomplices and culprits. A recent government commissioned inter ministerial committee on illegal mining report implicated some state and ruling (and soon to be opposition), government (NPP), members. It remains to be seen if the newly minted election winning NDC government will impact this disastrous crisis any differently, or tow a more solutions oriented approach.
Stay tuned for the second installment of this special report, which explores hardest hit areas, scoops on additional foreign culprits, political implications, and potential interventions in this gripping saga of misguided lust for fast poisoned wealth.
Additional reporting by Angela Ashong, of Race Against Times Inc, Ghana desk, and Nana Freduah Prempeh, Global editor and founder, Race Against Time Inc.
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