Call To Action: WHEN?

When will we realize that our rivers, the lifeblood of our nation, are no longer flowing with the purity they once had? When will we admit that the lush forests that once stood as symbols of our natural heritage are vanishing before our eyes? How long will we wait, watching as the earth beneath our feet is stripped bare and poisoned, all for the sake of gold?

Illegal mining, or "galamsey," has been one of the most pressing environmental issues in recent years. Our rivers, once teeming with life, are now nothing but toxic streams. The Birim, Ankobra, Pra, and other rivers, the arteries of southern Ghana, are polluted beyond recognition. Communities that relied on these rivers for drinking water, farming, and fishing are now left stranded. The Ghana Water Company has had to shut down multiple treatment plants because the water is no longer treatable. Our reliance on other water sources, like aquifers, is growing, yet we continue to destroy the very resources that sustain us.

When did we become a people who value short-term gain over long-term survival? The forests that once served as natural habitats for wildlife and protected our lands from erosion are being destroyed at an alarming rate. It is not just about the trees; it is about the balance they provide to our ecosystem. Illegal mining is clearing the land, leaving behind barren, lifeless landscapes.

And it’s not as though the fight against galamsey has been silent. For years, the Ghana Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM), media houses, and other civil society organizations have sounded the alarm. There have been protests, reports, campaigns, and calls to action. At some point, even the government appeared to be taking steps to address the crisis. President Nana Akufo-Addo declared that he was willing to put his presidency on the line to combat galamsey. For a fleeting moment, it seemed that change was coming.

But the reality? The situation has grown worse.

Illegal miners have become bolder, and our natural resources are suffering for it. How many more water treatment plants will need to be shut down before we take meaningful, sustained action? How much more forest will need to be lost before we realize that we cannot eat gold, drink polluted water, or rebuild the habitats of animals that have been displaced?

When will those engaging in galamsey recognize the irreversible damage they are doing? The destruction isn't limited to just the land they dig up; it stretches far and wide, affecting all of us. They might reap immediate profits, but they are poisoning the future, not only for themselves but for generations to come. The gold they take can never replace the ecosystems destroyed, the livelihoods shattered, and the communities rendered helpless.

At what point will we, as a nation, say enough is enough?

We must ask ourselves: when will we finally see that the cost of illegal mining is too high? When will we stop placing our environmental heritage, our health, and our future at risk for short-term gains? And most importantly, when will we take the decisive, uncompromising action needed to put an end to galamsey once and for all?

Time is running out. Let’s not wait until our rivers are entirely dry, our forests completely barren, and our people are left with nothing but regret. Let’s act now before we find ourselves asking the painful question: When did we lose everything?