Galamsey: We Risk Losing $15m Inflows

– And collapse of vegetable export market – VePEAG

Story: Isaac AIDOO, Accra

THE Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana (VePEAG) has called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to take decisive action against illegal mining activities, commonly known as ‘galamsey,’ as concerns mount over a potential ban on Ghana’s vegetable exports due to the severe pollution of water bodies.

At a press conference, the Association, which represents smallholder farmers, exporters, aggregators, and other actors within the export value chain, expressed fears that “if galamsey continues unchecked, it could result in catastrophic consequences for the vegetable export industry.”

VePEAG’s president, Dr. Felix Mawuli Kamassah, outlined the far-reaching implications, including the possible loss of US$15 million in foreign exchange inflows and the collapse of the vegetable export market.

“We make a passionate appeal to the President of Ghana, and on Parliament to call for an immediate halt to the activities of the ‘galamseyers’ to save our businesses,” Dr. Kamassah stated, adding that the industry is grappling with diminished vegetable production, food safety concerns, and the loss of farmlands critical for cultivation.

This appeal comes amid growing national outrage over the environmental damage caused by illegal mining, which has polluted many of Ghana’s rivers and farmlands. The issue has escalated in recent months, with renewed calls from various stakeholders, including environmental groups and policymakers, for a total ban on small-scale mining.

Critics argue that despite several interventions by the government, including the deployment of military task forces to stop the activities, galamsey continues to ravage the country’s natural resources.

The pollution of water bodies, in particular, has raised alarms not only for the agricultural sector but also for the potential health risks posed to consumers of contaminated produce. If the situation persists, Ghana risks being blacklisted by international markets, which would have severe economic repercussions for the country’s vegetable export sector.

VePEAG urged the government to enforce sanctions on illegal mining without fear or favor. The Association called for immediate action, including the swift mobilization of security agencies to affected areas to arrest and prosecute offenders.

Additionally, Dr. Kamassah emphasized the need for crisis meetings involving key stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, traditional chiefs, and national security, to devise a long-term strategy for tackling the galamsey menace.

The VePEAG president stressed that protecting Ghana’s water bodies is essential for safeguarding not only the livelihoods of those in the vegetable export sector but also for ensuring food security across the country. “The successful cessation of these illegal activities would protect and save the lives of the citizenry,” Dr. Kamassah noted, urging swift and comprehensive action to restore degraded lands and secure the future of Ghana’s agricultural sector.

As calls for a total ban on small-scale mining intensify, President Akufo-Addo’s administration faces increasing pressure to balance economic development with environmental protection. With the threat of export bans looming, the battle against galamsey may prove crucial not only to the survival of Ghana’s agriculture sector but also to the country’s overall economic stability.