GEJA On Galamsey Operators And NCCE

On Monday September 19, 2011 it was reported by a section of the Ghanaian Media that a joint team of Military and police in the Eastern region seized and burnt three excavators used by small scale miners in Akwabooso in the Eastern region. The police and the Military have justified their action saying the activities of the residents are putting the country�s environment in danger. The task force said its operation was to clamp down on the activities of illegal miners in the area, but the task force was criticized by those affected especially the former MP for Akwatia, Kinston Kissi who apparently owns the excavators. The Forestry Commission of Ghana according to a Daily Graphic publication on Thursday September 22, 2011 has also expressed concern over the activities of chainsaw operators who continue to engage in illegally logging against the country�s laws. The commission said the activities of these chainsaw operators are depleting the country�s forest reserve, exposing the environment to great danger. These happenings are sources of worry to the Ghana Environmental Journalists Association (GEJA). GEJA also wants to note that several other bad environmental practices like �Galamsey� operations if not checked quickly would destroy the environment which is supposed to sustain the lives of the current and future generations. During an interaction between some members of the GEJA and officials of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), it was revealed that the commission is seriously under resourced and cannot discharge its constitutional duties including educating all Ghanaians about acts that are dangerous to the sustainability of the environment. We are therefore calling on the government to as a matter of urgency equip the NCCE to embark on a massive nationwide sensitization program in schools and various communities on the consequences of bad environmental practices. We believe doing so will aid other efforts by various organizations to address the growing destruction of the environment which is a threat to the sustainability of our environment.