Galamsey is taking so much from the country– Daryl Bosu urges government action

Daryl Bosu, Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, has called for heightened urgency in addressing the illegal mining crisis, known as galamsey, following the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and six others.

In an interview with Selorm Adonoo on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, August 9, Mr. Bosu described galamsey as a significant drain on Ghana’s resources and stated that the loss of these lives should serve as a catalyst for change.

“Galamsey is taking so much from the country. We think that this should be a turning point for Ghana in the fight against galamsey. We cannot let this loss of precious lives be in vain. We really need to let this mean something good for the country.

“This has become a sacrifice on the occasion of that particular day. Letting us know that we cannot go back to the neglect, the inaction and all the things when it comes to galamsey, all the things that we need to do that we haven’t done. We cannot let this go to waste. So much has been lost, and the sacrifice is so deep and tough,” he said.

Mr. Bosu urged the government to hold all parties involved in illegal mining accountable, including security agencies, state appointees, and public officials. He called for consequences for those who either enable the practice or fail to act against it.

“Everybody must see this as a rallying point to bring about some change. Nobody should be allowed to go scot-free; there should be consequences for the police, military, everybody, state appointees, and public officials who are supervising and have the capacity and power.

He added, “If you sit idly by and allow this to continue, this tragedy should serve as a reminder of what needs to be done. We cannot afford to keep neglecting this issue any longer. We need a fundamental shift in how we approach galamsey.”

Mr. Bosu concluded by urging the country to act swiftly and decisively, warning that any return to complacency would squander the opportunity for real change.

“There’s no longer any excuse for us not to act decisively in dealing with galamsey,” he suggested.