We Must Be Deliberate In Fighting Illegal Mining On Black Volta- Woyome Urges

The Member of Parliament for the South Tongu constituency in the Volta region, Kobena Mensah Woyome is advocating a deliberate national efforts for the immediate ceasure of illegal mining especially, along the Black Volta.

A video documentary  posted on YouTube by an investigative journalist, Edem Srem on 9th July, 2023 revealed activities of illegal miners on the Black Volta using sophisticated machines resulting on the discolouring of the water.

Mr Woyome who is the Ranking Member of the Youth and Sports, and Culture and Chieftaincy committees of parliament made the call on the floor of Parliament and demanded a parliamentary probe is response to the cry of mother earth and prevent diseases and deaths.

“This must be stopped immediately. Mr. Speaker, we all can attest to the level of destruction of mining activities in Ghana today.

We hear the cry of mother earth and the cry of the poor even louder because of the destruction and injustice perpetrated by mining, legal or illegal, large-scale or small-scale and its dire consequences such as unrest, poverty, floods, upsurge of diseases, different kinds of cancers, birth of deformed babies, premature or early deaths among the youth’’.

According to the lawmaker, illegal mining has caused destruction to several water bodies such as River Pra, River Ankobra, and River Birim hence the need to prevent the menace from gaining grounds on the Black Volta which serves multiple used and benefits to the entire nation.

“Mr. Speaker, ‘The Black Volta is a tributary to the main Volta Lake’. It is a major source of water for thousands of Ghanaians who use it for irrigation and domestic purposes. ‘The Bui Hydro Power Dam is situated on the Black Volta’, with Akosombo Hydro Dam down south and several other tourist facilities along the river due to its serene nature’’ Mr Woyome stated.

Hon Woyome also expressed worry about the failure of all state and non-state actors including government and chiefs in the fight against the galamsay menace and urged the urgent need for a paradigm shift to ensure that the current generation does not regret its inactions in future.

“The government has failed on its part to arrest this worrying situation. Our traditional leaders who serve as administrators, political and developmental leaders as part of their roles have also failed us.

These illegal activities are perpetuated under their very eyes. If our traditional leaders cannot protect and preserve our natural resources, they should at least consider the immediate and long-term effects of these activities on their people.

 Mr. Speaker, there must be every effort to stop the illegal activity ongoing on the Black Volta as this has the tendency to affect not only a section of Ghanaians but the entire country.

We must not sit for this to go on and bow our heads in shame tomorrow as leaders who failed in their common duty; we must be intentional in fighting this if not, in some few years to come, Ghana will have to import water for consumption’’ the South Tongu MP lamented.