Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has reaffirmed government’s determination to end illegal mining (galamsey), describing it as a national crisis that has eroded Ghana’s environmental integrity.
During a meeting with the Ghanaian community in Belgium as part of her working visit to Brussels, she acknowledged that while mining has long been part of Ghana’s heritage, the current scale of destruction is unprecedented.
“Ghana has mined for generations,” she said, “but never witnessed such environmental degradation until recent years. To address this, new measures are being implemented to ban mining in forest reserves and water bodies.”
She emphasized that although the fight against galamsey may not yield instant results, the government’s commitment remains firm.
“Fixing the problem will take time,” she admitted, “but we have the resolve and determination to restore our environment.”
Dr. Opoku-Agyemang also addressed related issues of food safety and sustainable agriculture, assuring Ghanaians that government is collaborating with researchers to improve soil testing and promote safer farming practices.
“We are working closely with experts to ensure food safety,” she noted, adding that responsible environmental stewardship and public health go hand in hand.
