Agric Minister warns galamsey poses threat to future generations

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has issued a strong warning about the devastating consequences of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, stressing that its impact extends far beyond the present generation.

He cautioned that unless urgent and collective action is taken, the destruction of Ghana’s natural environment will leave irreversible damage for future generations.

Speaking to the media, Mr Opoku underscored the gravity of the situation, pointing to the widespread pollution of water bodies, the destruction of fertile farmlands and the disruption of delicate ecosystems.

These, he said, are undermining food production, water safety and environmental sustainability.

“As for the illegal mining, it is not a matter of it being a challenge to me as a minister or to me as a citizen of this country. It is a challenge to all of us. This is because we are polluting the environment, destroying the land and our water bodies. So, what future are we bequeathing to the future generation?” Mr Opoku questioned.

The Minister stressed that protecting the environment must be considered a shared national responsibility that transcends politics, personal gain or partisan divides.

He urged all stakeholders, including traditional leaders, local communities and law enforcement agencies, to play an active role in eradicating galamsey.

“Safeguarding the environment is not the duty of government alone. It is the duty of every citizen to ensure that the land, water and natural resources we inherited are preserved for those who come after us,” Mr Opoku said.

The Agric Minister reiterated that failure to act decisively would compromise Ghana’s long-term food security and environmental health.

He emphasised that addressing galamsey requires both enforcement and collective social responsibility to secure the future of generations yet unborn.