I should be happy today. It is the first of a 2 day consultative dialogue organized by Ghana's Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on small scale mining. It is a part of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's call to dialogue around the issue of illegal and irresponsible mining that is destroying Ghanaian rivers, communities and the environment in general.
Unfortunately, for a government that knows very well what needs to be done to quench the fire of environmental degradation, especially the use of the highly destructive Chanfangs and mercury on our water bodies like Tano but has refused to ban them, or remove government appointees in the districts and regions, under whose watch these atrocities occur, I have very little faith in what new things this dialogue would uncover.
For the sake of #Tano #Ankobra #Birim #Pra #Bonsa #JuenLagune #AbbyLagoon #WhiteVolta. For the sake of communities like #Telekubokazo in #Ellembenle District where 16 year old Azane lost her life this Saturday in a stream turned into a mercury filled pond in the middle of her town, I really hope something positive comes out of this.