Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called on the academic community to take a more active role in tackling the pressing challenge of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey in Ghana.
Kufuor underscored that while politicians have played a key role in the ongoing battle against galamsey, their efforts alone are insufficient to achieve lasting solutions.
He emphasized the need for academic experts to get involved, pointing to the value of their knowledge, research, and analytical capabilities in crafting more effective and sustainable strategies to address the issue.
Addressing a special gathering at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), the former president highlighted the critical urgency of confronting illegal mining.
He underscored the damaging effects of galamsey, including environmental destruction, polluted water bodies, and the loss of fertile land, warning that these issues have profound implications for Ghana’s future.
Kufuor stressed that this is not merely a political problem but one requiring a multidisciplinary solution, with the academic community playing a crucial role.
“The issue of illegal mining and the responsible management of our natural resources demands urgent and thorough analysis if we are to find long-term solutions,” he said.
“I therefore call on thought leaders, particularly within academia and institutions like GIMPA, to take the lead in fostering discussions that drive solutions to these critical national challenges in both the short and long term.”
Kufuor’s appeal comes as illegal mining continues to be one of Ghana’s most divisive issues, raising widespread concerns over its environmental, public health, and economic impacts.
Galamsey operations, often conducted in unauthorised areas without regard for environmental regulations, have resulted in contaminated rivers, deforestation, and significant soil erosion.
These activities not only endanger Ghana’s natural resources but have also ignited tensions between local communities and mining operators.
SOURCE: Obikyere Abigail Seyram
