Prof. John Gatsi, the Dean of University of Cape Coast Business School has said that galamsay issues in Ghana should no longer be treated as “normal political entertainment” but a crime against humanity.
According to the economist and a lawyer in a Facebook post sighted by Awake News, “In 2017, the International Criminal Court (ICC) considered matters relating to the destruction of the environment. Deliberate pollution of water bodies as a crime against humanity.” and “Ghana ratified and adopted SDGs, our own constitution protects these rights and the International Criminal Court also affirmed that such crimes are not only against the environment but also human life.”
“Clean environment and access to clean water are an integral part of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) looking forward to 2030 and a major part of the African Union ‘s agenda 2063. Clean water and a clean environment are human rights issues.” – He added
Prof. Gatsi’s post is coming at the time that there is a huge public concern over the spate of illegal mining (galamsey) activities and its devastating effects on water bodies and the environment especially when President Akufo-Addo has claimed to have put tough measures in place to curb the situation.
Recently, it has been alleged that many officials of government and the ruling New Patriotic Party are deeply involved in the galamsey following the claims by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, Minister for Environment, Science and Innovation and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining that about 500 excavators seized during the operations of the Committee have got missing.
This missing excavators scandal has also forced the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to hold a Press Conference at the bank of River Pra yesterday to show the true state of the river at the wake of the claimed fight against galamsey by the president.
The NDC has since called for the removal of President Akufo-Addo as the Co-Chair of UN SDGs advocates over his failure to fight against illegal mining.
Read Prof. Gatsi’s full post:
Clean environment and access to clean water are an integral part of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) looking forward to 2030 and a major part of the African Union ‘s agenda 2063. Clean water and a clean environment are human rights issues.
In 2017, the ICC considered matters relating to the destruction of the environment. Deliberate pollution of water bodies as a crime against humanity. Ghana ratified and adopted SDGs, our own constitution protects these rights and the International Criminal Court also affirmed that such crimes are not only against the environment but also human life.
It seems we are treating galamsay issues as normal political entertainment. Those who engaged in it in recent times with heavy equipment polluted rivers, streams and water courses must begin to appreciate the type of crime they have and continue to commit. Those who participated in one way or the other must be told about their involvement in crime against humanity. Those who discuss and write about galamsay should press the crime against humanity button.
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com