Galamsey
Farmers at Ahwenease, in the Abuakwa South municipality of the Eastern Region, are calling for tougher government action against illegal and irresponsible mining activities that are devastating their farmlands.
They say environmental pollution and land degradation are not only cutting them off from their farms but also making their produce unsafe for consumption.
From Kyebi, we drove to Ahwenease to meet Prince Frimpong, a smallholder farmer tending to his spice farm. Right on the boundary of his farm, irresponsible mining activities are in full swing.
He and other farmers must risk walking dangerous paths near deep mining pits just to transport foodstuffs home. Even that is becoming unfeasible. Many aged farmers are giving up, unable to afford the services of labourers they would normally hire.
Prince Frimpong says he can no longer harvest his spice farm as he did two years ago, the land is gradually being polluted by mining runoff.
Nearby, cassava grows on what has been designated as reclaimed land despite concerns about soil contamination from mercury and cyanide used in mining processes.
“We are facing a lot of challenges when it comes to farming here. Right behind me, you can see illegal mining going on. When it rains, all the dirty water flows through my farm. Some plants die from the chemicals. On top of that, we no longer have clean water on our farms,” says Prince.
“I find it difficult even getting here. I’m discouraged. I harvested this farm last year, and the leaves are only now coming back. This is a local spice it’s what feeds my family but now my farm is being destroyed. I have invested too much to lose it,” he added
He points to a cluster of banana plants far off. “I can’t even carry bananas home anymore the paths have been dug up and are muddy. How do we feed the community and the country like this?”
Glamsey
He adds that even when they manage to grow food, consumers are beginning to avoid their produce due to fears of contamination.
“It’s very difficult. We produce food crops, but getting people to buy is another issue. Not because they don’t need it but because they’re afraid. If the research reveals toxic substances in food from mining communities, people won’t buy. Now, people are asking where their food comes from.”
Recent research findings by Pure Earth and the Environmental Protection Agency from samples across six regions showed high levels of lead, mercury and other chemicals in food crops, soil, and water.
Prince Frimpong is emphatic that a state of emergency must be declared.
“Government is doing its best, but it’s not enough. A state of emergency is necessary. I am not a lawyer, but I understand that when there’s a severe threat to a community, when the law alone can’t control it, a state of emergency must be declared. That’s the situation here. We’re afraid to eat our own crops. Our water bodies are gone. Isn’t that a threat? People may eat and end up with liver or kidney disease. This is an emergency.”
Meanwhile, the Concerned Citizens of the Atewa Landscape, led by their Coordinator Paul Asumaku, are also demanding immediate action.
“We oversee 52 communities across the Atewa Landscape. This area is home to three major rivers, Densu, Ayensu, and Birim. All three are now polluted. The Densu River alone supplies water to over five million Ghanaians in the Eastern Region and Accra. If we lose it completely, what happens next?” Paul Asumaku questioned.
Residents of Kyebi and its environs are resorting to mechanized boreholes and rainwater to survive the absent of potable water from pipes.
He adds that the Birim River intake source for the Ghana Water Company is already gone.” For the past two months, residents in Kyebi have gone without water from the Ghana Water Company Limited. They cannot produce, turbidity levels are too high. This is not something to treat as business as usual. We are calling on the government to reset mining activities, re-register, and re-license operators under strict regulation. That’s why we believe a state of emergency is crucial.”
President John Mahama, in a recent meeting with journalists, stated that declaring a state of emergency may not be feasible.
Nonetheless, the current administration has scheduled a stakeholder meeting on Friday to engage various interest groups on the matter.
Source:Lovinghananews.com
