GRITG calls for nat’l dialogue on illegal mining, climate change

 The government has been asked to organise a national forum to discuss effective ways of dealing with illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, and climate change, to prevent environmental degradation and health hazards.

This is because tackling galam­sey has become more difficult since some people continue to rely on the practice as a source of livelihood despite its negative effects on the environment and wellbeing of the people.

The Green Revolution Innova­tive Thinkers Ghana (GRITG), a non-profit organisation seeking to tackle global food security, cli­mate change, and ecological deg­radation, in a statement, signed by its President and Chief Exec­utive Officer (CEO), Emmanuel Efui Tamakloe, copied The Gha­naian Times, in Accra, reminded government that “galamsey, and climate change continue to bring about devastating ecological and health effects.”

He cited deforestation, soil degradation, environmental destruction, and water pollution, resulting in chronic diseases such as kidney failure, birth defects and cancer.

The CEO said the link be­tween izllegal mining and climate change, which according to him are ‘Siamese enemies’ destroying the environment with the health implications, needed serious attention.

Mr Tamakloe said that illegal mining remained a major emit­ters of greenhouse gases that produced fossil energy resources, which significantly contributed to the release of global carbon dioxide.

He noted that campaigners, including journalists, organised labour, the clergy, health profes­sionals, chiefs, and Civil Society Organisations have intensified the demand for government to find lasting solution to galamsey and climate change.

Mr Tamakloe stressed: “We should avert our minds to the fact that galamsey has a signifi­cant impact on climate change, as the use of heavy machinery and chemicals in illegal mining resulting in the releases of large amounts of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.”

He said, additionally, carbon dioxide and other gasses are re­leased during the combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, to produce electricity.

Mr Tamakloe explained that “these gases contribute to global warming, which leads to climate change, and the destruction of forests and vegetation cover by illegal miners also reduces the capacity of the ecosystem to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.”

He appealed to government, organisations and individuals to collectively scale up climate friendly initiatives, policies and projects such as the Green Ghana Day, to combat climate change and environmental deg­radation.

Mr Tamakloe said the call resonated to the GRITG’s vision of combating climate change towards promoting environmen­tal sustainability, noting that “cli­mate change causes certain areas to get warmer or drier, while others get wetter. These changes impact our health and also the ecosystems we depend on.”

He cautioned that climate change posed a significant threat, aggravating extreme weather conditions, sea-level rise, and biodiversity loss.

“We reiterate the call to switch en­ergy systems from fossil fuels to renewable sources like solar or wind to reduce the emissions driving climate change.”

Climate action requires not only con­crete action by stakehold­er, but also sig­nificant funding by governments and businesses, who have the financial muscle, Mr Tamakloe advised.

He said while the galam­sey fight intensified, “we must also take bold and proactive steps to reduce car­bon emission, and promote sustainable land use practices, including adopting climate-smart agricul­ture and eco-friendly consumption pat­terns.”

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