Joseph Osei-Owusu, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Bekwai, has restated his controversial approach to addressing illegal mining, known as galamsey. In a assertive statement during a radio interview on a local station in Kumasi.
The First Deputy Speaker proposed the implementation of a ‘shoot to kill’ policy to tackle the widespread galamsey activities impacting Ghana’s water bodies and forests. Galamsey has long been a significant issue in Ghana, particularly in rural areas, where mining is often done without proper permits or adherence to environmental regulations.
The environmental consequences of galamsey are severe, with water systems contaminated by chemicals like mercury and cyanide used in the mining process. The deforestation and destruction of farmlands have raised concerns about the sustainability of Ghana’s natural resources.
Osei-Owusu’s drastic suggestion is founded on the belief that extreme actions are needed to address an extreme problem. He proposed that law enforcement should have the authority to shoot illegal miners on sight, especially those operating on water bodies that are most impacted by galamsey pollution. “If caught mining on a water body, you should expect to be shot.”
Approximately 15 individuals were operating changfans at Dunkwa. Upon the arrival of the patrol team bus, they immediately jumped into the water. They are challenging to reach. The most effective course of action is to eliminate them. The actions of the individual will discourage others from similar behavior.”
