The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer has added her voice to the ongoing galamsey debate in Ghana.
According to her, the operation of the illegal mining activities is causing a lot of environmental havoc.
She has therefore put the blame on what she called powerful who are behind the operations.
The US Ambassador Virginia Palmer said, Ghana is not making enough effort to deal with the menace as the powerful forces behind are not dealt with.
According to her, Ghana could face serious crisis soon as a result galamsey if it is not stopped.
“We has a congressional delegaton from our House of Representatives, Natural Resource Committee, that was here two weeks ago. And they were looking into pollution, the impact on fisheries from illegal mining.
“This (galamsey) is something, I think Ghanaians must be aggressive in fighting and enforcing regulations that you do have” she said.
She added that the real culprits behind the galamsey are those benefitting greatly and not those engaged in activities but the powerful forces.
“The galamseyers themselves are people who need to make a living. I think the galamseyers are not active in doing it but the powers behind them are the ones truly responsible for the evils. Indeed, they are wrecking environmental havoc on your rivers which is having an impact on your cocoa crops. All of these things are going to have really negative consequences on the economy of Ghana,”she said
The US ambassador to Ghana made these comments when she paid a visit to the King of Ashanti, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II.
On the part of the King, he bemoaned the level of galamsey devastation to the environment and the use of modern equipment in the activities.
“It (galamsey) has gotten to a point where people are now using equipment and all that. They do not care about the environment.
“But the question is who is in control of the security around the area. From the district level to the highest level. We are all talking about ‘galamsey’. The government set up this military cum police to stop the galamsey. Why have we not been able to stop it? Why?” he asked.
Source: theGhanaianvoice.com