llegal mining, also known as "galamsey" in Ghana, is a major issue that has been affecting the country for many years. Galamsey operations involve the use of heavy machinery and chemicals to extract gold from the earth, often in a manner that is harmful to the environment and human health.
The negative impacts of galamsey include water pollution, deforestation, land degradation, and loss of biodiversity. The polluted water from galamsey activities can harm aquatic life, making it difficult for communities to access clean water for drinking and domestic use.
In response to the galamsey issue, the Ghanaian government established the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) in 2017, which was chaired by Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng. The committee was tasked with developing strategies and implementing measures to curb illegal mining activities and their negative impacts.
In this episode, I will be discussing my thoughts on how the Government of Ghana has responded to the report on illegal mining by Professor Boateng.