By Ghanaian statesman and former military officer, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has asserted that the Ghanaian military could put an end to the illegal mining crisis, known as galamsey, within a week if not for political interference.
The conversation around the effects of illegal mining has been reignited by a recent JoyNews documentary titled ‘Poisoned Rivers,’ which exposed the alarming levels of river pollution caused by galamsey.
Additionally, a report by The Fourth Estate has revealed that some government officials and politically exposed individuals are seeking permits to mine in Ghana’s forest reserves, including protected areas.
The Ghana Water Company has also reported difficulties in treating water for several communities due to the harmful effects of galamsey on rivers used for distribution.
The GWCL and other stakeholders have warned that Ghana may soon be forced to import water on a large scale if the galamsey crisis is not addressed.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, September 9, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe attributed the galamsey problem to the failure of political leadership under the current government.
He noted, however, that the Ghana Armed Forces could have easily halted the menace at any time, but are now hindered due to the high level of political interests involved in illegal mining.
Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe made this statement in response to a suggestion by the Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company, who called for the galamsey fight to be placed directly under the Chief of Defense Staff for military intervention.
“I agree entirely. The Military has leadership and if they’re given that task without the influence of politicians, I can assure you they will finish this within one week. If they’re told this is the task; stop it, I can assure you within one week they will stop it. But where you have leaders within the political parties and the groupings using a section of the military; [it becomes difficult].
“The military has changed just like politics in this country. It has changed. Politics formally, at least the one that I saw, we had leaders with integrity. We don’t have them now. You have politicians who had feelings for the ordinary person, we don’t have them now. The leadership we have in politics now are the leaders who come to steal; physical stealing. The same with the military. In the military years back when they were given a task, you could be sure they would do it.”
He attributed the changes in the military largely to political interference, particularly through the practice of protocol recruitment into the service.
“The Military itself has been so politicized now. When we’re recruiting people into the army now it has become a protocol list. It never existed when I was in the army. The Military gave directives and recruitment is done in every region of the country. The so-called protocol list has totally destroyed the security service in this country and we’re all sitting down looking” he lamented.
