The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua, Most Reverend Joseph Afrifa Agyakum has hailed the Government for holding National Consultative Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining to find a solution from expects to fight illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
He noted that the Country might import water and spend a huge amount of money to get water for citizens if immediate steps are not taken to address the pollution of water bodies through the activities of illegal mining.
Speaking with Journalist in Asamankese after the ordination of four Deacons into the Diocese of Koforidua, Most Reverend Joseph Afrifa Agyakum called on Government and Ghanaians to join hands to arrest and prosecute Foreigners who have entered the Country for illegal mining.
He said “I am happy that the talk on galamsey is back again. It has destroyed our lands and polluted our Rivers and in the Eastern Region, most water bodies are polluted now. I have traveled to many places in the Region and the Country and have seen how water bodies are polluted and if we don’t take immediate steps water will be imported into Ghana soon”.
The Bishop called on Ghanaians who are secretly aiding Foreigners into the illegal mining method to stop such activities, adding, the Foreigners are in the Country to pollute our Rivers and destroy the Country and then run away but such activities are not allowed in their Country.
The National Consultative Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining held at the Accra International Conference Centre organized by the Forestry Commission under the auspices of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on the theme: “Sustainable Small-Scale Mining for National Development” to ensure a broad-based consensus and a workable blueprint to promote sustainable mining and stem illegal small-scale mining in the country.
It brought together representatives from the Ghana Association of Small-Scale Miners and Ghana Chamber of Mines, chiefs from the 16 regions, members of the Council of State and National House of Chiefs, among other stakeholders.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com
