The Country Director for Africa Institute for Small Scale Mining, His Royal Highness, Abdul–Salam Yussif II, has called on the Government of Ghana to suspend small-scale mining that is rapidly destroying water bodies and the environment in general.
He made the suggestion in an interview with the media at the Africa Peace Advocate Awards 2024 held on Saturday, September 21st, at the National Theatre in Accra.
The awards were organized to honor over 50 men and women from all sectors in Africa, including HRH. Abdul-Salam Yussif II, who have distinguished themselves by promoting peace in the country over the years.
The Country Director emphasized that without peace, no business can thrive in the country, so everyone must be involved in promoting peace, especially during the 2024 elections. He further warned,
“Ghana is on the brink of an environmental catastrophe that, if not addressed immediately, will severely endanger the health, well-being, and future of its citizens.”
“The government has to suspend illegal mining and then follow it up by investigating to fish out those found responsible for the damage, to be punished severely,” he said.
Alhaji Yussif noted, “Gold Catcher is very good for mining,” stressing that “the country has to encourage the use of gold catcher to promote responsible mining.”
“Water that is being destroyed is a threat to our lives, and so illegal mining that is the cause should be stopped. The deliberate attack on our water bodies is a threat to democracy, so we have to put a stop to it.” He added, “We have to also put a stop to it in order to treat our water bodies to protect our fish and other aquatic life. If care is not taken, Ghana will import water.”
Alhaji Yussif also urged, “All political parties should make a public declaration and publish a duly signed document on their commitment to fight illegal and unethical mining activities in Ghana.”
On his part, the United Nations Eminent Peace Ambassador, Dr. Samuel Ben Owusu, who is also Country Director for the International Association of World Peace Advocates-Ghana, called on the Electoral Commission of Ghana to be fair, transparent, and to maintain a high level of integrity in the forthcoming elections in December.
To the media, he urged them “to be balanced in their reportage to promote peace.” He also called on “our chiefs, and everybody to join the campaign for peace and maintain it, as people normally take peace for granted until it becomes difficult to restore peace whenever it is compromised.
