At a recent Central Regional Town Hall Meeting in Cape Coast, the focus shifted from the government’s efforts to combat illegal mining to broader challenges within the community, including the impact of greed and a “get-rich-quick” mentality, as emphasized by the Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan.
Mrs. Assan expressed concerns over how these mindsets are fueling environmental destruction, particularly in relation to illegal gold mining, known locally as galamsey.
She noted that despite the government’s efforts to provide alternative livelihoods through various skill and entrepreneurial training programs, many individuals involved in galamsey have refused these opportunities because they are not “quick money” ventures.
“The problem lies in the preference for shortcuts to wealth rather than sustainable, long-term economic activities,” Mrs. Assan explained.
She stressed that curbing galamsey requires a collective effort, especially among community leaders and citizens, to shift their priorities away from instant wealth at the expense of the environment.
During the meeting, participants also discussed other pressing issues such as the region’s educational advancements. The Free Senior High School program has increased enrollment in the region from 20,030 in 2017 to 53,980 in 2023, a significant leap that Mrs. Assan attributed to government support for educational infrastructure.
Read Also: Public-Private partnership crucial for Ghana’s Malaria Elimination, experts say
Health and infrastructure development also received attention. Mrs. Assan highlighted the progress of the Agenda 111 hospital projects, with eight hospitals under construction in the region, and the expansion of ambulance services from two vehicles in 2017 to 23 in 2023.
Meanwhile, road networks have expanded significantly, improving access to urban and rural areas alike.
Addressing issues in the fishing sector, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson, pointed to strategic measures like the temporary sea closures and the moratorium on canoes as proactive steps to allow marine stocks to replenish.
She also introduced the sale of automated premix fuel, a move designed to enhance transparency and accountability in the sector.
Throughout the event, various speakers, including Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Presidential Advisor on Health, highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to improve healthcare, fisheries, and education, while participants called for intensified efforts to combat galamsey and enhance the region’s infrastructure.
