MUST 'GALAMSEY' BE LEGALISED?

MAAME ADWOA SARPONG, SEKONDI
Galamsey operators derive their daily bread from engaging in the illegal mining of gold. Much as their operations deviate from the norm, it nonetheless serve as their source of employment.
But having said that, I also do not think that there cannot be solutions to the problem of galamsey operations in this country. It is, therefore, important that structures that ensure the smooth implementation of galamsey operations are put in place by the Government or the governing agencies concerned. This will give assurance that operators are operating safely and in a manner that will safeguard the environment and avoid accidents.
The people who engage in galamsey operations have to eat. In fact, some have children and also look after extended family members as well.
So the time has come for us to find a way out. The operators may not have the technology to be able to reclaim land and use the appropriate means of extracting gold, so they need training and support.
If as a country, we look on unconcerned and people die, that would be another bad episode in our history. I think that if the sector is given the support that it needs and accidents are reduced to the barest minimum, it will be good for the economy and will also provide employment for thousands of the people.
The Mineral Commission owes it a duty to ensure that they not only regularise the operations of galamsey practitioners, but also give them opportunities to undergo training, or else we will always give ‘the dog a bad name and hang it’.