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Illegal mining, known locally as “galamsey,” has long been a scourge in Ghana, devastating the environment, polluting water bodies, and threatening the livelihoods of communities. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP Presidential Candidate, has laid out a comprehensive strategy to address this pressing issue, focusing on prevention, regulation, and sustainable practices.
A Preventive Approach
Dr. Bawumia emphasizes the need to shift from reactive measures to a more proactive, preventive approach. “We are always trying to chase people,” he noted, “but we are not trying to prevent it from happening in the first place.” He advocates for tackling the root causes of galamsey by reforming and regularizing the small-scale mining sector. By ensuring that the system is transparent and well-organized, authorities can prevent illegal mining activities before they start, rather than constantly battling to stop them.
Sanitize and Regularize Small-Scale Mining
The core of Dr. Bawumia’s plan is to overhaul the small-scale mining regime and bring order to the sector. He envisions a system where miners are properly licensed and their operations are aligned with environmental sustainability. The first step, he suggests, is ensuring that the Geological Survey Authority of Ghana conducts detailed mapping of the country’s gold reserves.
Currently, many miners operate without knowledge of where viable gold deposits are located. “At the moment, people are just doing trial and error, destroying our environment,” Dr. Bawumia explained. By mapping out gold reserves, miners can be directed to specific areas where they are likely to find gold, eliminating the random and environmentally destructive digging.
Community Mining Schemes with Proper Regulation
Dr. Bawumia proposes setting up Community Mining Schemes where miners are guided by data from the Geological Survey Authority. These schemes will provide certainty for miners and reduce the destructive practices that result from random exploration. Under this system, licensed miners will operate in designated zones, ensuring that mining activities are contained and easier to monitor.
To further enhance responsible mining, Dr. Bawumia recommends introducing gold-kacha machines that eliminate the use of mercury, which is harmful to both the environment and human health. Additionally, miners will be kept away from water bodies, protecting vital water resources from contamination.
Law Enforcement and Monitoring
Dr. Bawumia underscores the importance of enforcing existing laws to combat illegal mining. While regularization will help bring miners into the formal sector, law enforcement is critical to deter those who still attempt to operate illegally. “We need to regulate them and enforce the laws that are already in place,” he said.
To strengthen this, Dr. Bawumia proposes registering miners using their Ghana Card, ensuring all miners are known, monitored, and held accountable. With proper monitoring systems, law enforcement authorities can prevent illegal activities, ensuring that mining operations remain within legal and environmentally sustainable bounds.
Providing Alternatives to Illegal Mining
One of the key challenges in tackling galamsey is that many illegal miners see it as their only means of livelihood. Dr. Bawumia’s solution is to provide legal and sustainable alternatives. By offering miners properly regulated spaces to work, access to common-user facilities, and clear guidelines for responsible mining, they will be less inclined to engage in destructive activities.
“If you don’t provide that alternative,” he warned, “they are going to always try to play hide and seek with law enforcement.” By formalizing the mining sector, miners can pursue their livelihoods legally, reducing the need for them to resort to illegal methods.
Why It’s the Best Solution
Dr. Bawumia’s plan to combat the galamsey menace in Ghana is rooted in prevention, regulation, and sustainable practices. By reforming the small-scale mining sector, introducing community mining schemes based on geological data, and enforcing laws with strict monitoring, his strategy offers a holistic approach to curbing illegal mining. With a focus on providing alternatives for miners, his plan ensures that Ghana’s precious resources can be harnessed without destroying the environment or jeopardizing future generations.
In his own words: “Prevention is better than cure, and that should be our attitude. Let’s sanitize the sector, regulate it, and enforce the law.”
