Ghana’s Minister of Environment, Science and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, has indicated that neighbouring Ivory Coast is not happy over illegal mining activities in Ghana.
According to the minister, Ivory Coast has argued that the “galamsey” menace is destroying their water bodies.
“I was in Abidjan from Wednesday to Saturday for a conference and I was confronted with galamsey almost immediately on the effects that the galamsey in Ghana is having on Ivory Coast because River Bia enters Ivory Coast almost at the lower thirds. And Tano enters the Lagoon and it is polluting the Bia lagoon so they cannot even treat water in some of their treatment plants.”
“So they [Ivorians] took advantage of my presence to organize a press conference. I met the Minister for Environment and the Mining Minister and they asked me to speak to their people. I made it clear to them that we are very serious to stop galamsey and I was able to convince them that indeed we are serious. The good thing is that, they always made reference to the good relationship between Ghana and Ivory Coast and especially between Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo and the President of Ivory Coast,” Prof. Boateng said.
He disclosed this on Tuesday during the launch of a media coalition against the galamsey menace in the country.
READ ALSO: 'Galamsey man' dares Nana Addo on plans to clamp down illegal mining
The galamsey menace continues to serve as a threat to water bodies, aquatic life, and agriculture in the country.
However, several efforts by previous governments including setting up an inter-ministerial taskforce in the previous administration seem to have proved futile.
The new Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr John Peter Amewu, has given a three-week ultimatum to all illegal miners to stop their activities or be prepared to face the full rigours of the law.