How Galamsey Has Contributed to Economic Hardship in Ghana

Galamsey is the local name given to the small-scale mining that is being carried on in Ghana, largely illegal. To many, it is viewed as a short cut to acquiring money, particularly for those in the rural areas. Even as it seems a good way of making money, galamsey has brought devastating effects on the economy of this country. Instead of contributing to community development, it has resulted in economic struggles that most people overlook. Let’s look at how galamsey has made economic challenges worse for many Ghanaians.

1. Damage to Farmlands

One most commonly devastating effect of galamsey is the loss of good farming land. Many villages in Ghana depend on farming for money. However, illegal mining destroys large parts of farmland, making it hard to plant crops. Damage to farmland means farmers lose their jobs, hence raising the bar of poverty, pushing more people into financial troubles. Good lands to farm are truly important to the survival of whole communities.

2. Water Pollution Affects Fishing and Agriculture

Water Pollution Spoils Fishing and Farming Galamsey highly pollutes the water with chemicals that involve mercury and cyanide, which help in extracting gold from the earth. Rivers and streams that over the years were feeding people with their clean waters are poisonous to farming and the numbers of fish. Farmers cannot water their plants from dirty water sources, while losing money due to decreased numbers of fish. Environmental degradation then leads directly to economic problems for those individuals dependent upon these resources.

3. Health Issues and Medical Expenses

Equally, Galamsey has caused environmental damage characterized by serious health problems among the communities living alongside it. Harmful chemicals pollute the water and bring about different types of illnesses such as skin diseases, breathing problems, and even long-term effects like cancer. Medical care is expensive, hence creating extra burdens on families that cannot easily make ends meet. Health costs further deplete households of much-needed income and, in the process, plunge them into poverty.

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4. Loss of Tourism and Investment Opportunities

It has hurt the local economy, where people become less willing to invest in areas described as riddled with galamsey. Areas that would have attracted tourists or investors become a no-go area because they are dangerous due to environmental damage and the lack of law and order. For example, all eco-tourism centers around mining areas have lost patronage due to pollution and land destruction. Without investment, and without tourism, these areas lack the money which could have helped develop the local economies.

5. Cycle of Poverty and Dependence on Galamsey

Ironically, while galamsey can give some people fast money, it confines a lot of others to poverty. Environmental destruction resulting from the activities of galamsey makes it impossible for communities to seek livelihoods through sustainable means; hence, they find themselves having to rely on galamsey as their only source of income. With time, once communities have no other means of seeking an income, they become increasingly vulnerable to having financial problems, relying on an illegal way of survival that is not stable.

Conclusion

Galamsey perhaps looks like money-making for some, but the long-lasting effects it causes in the environment, health, and local economies have translated into more poverty and suffering. What do you think can best repair both environmental damage from galamsey and economic hardship that it brings about? Is this all about rule making, land fixing, or giving other ways of livelihood? Share your ideas with us in the comments section below!

Source: Xtrememediaonline.com