Galamsey, the term used for illegal small-scale gold mining in Ghana, has left a devastating trail across many regions of the country.
Rivers have been polluted, forests destroyed, and farmlands rendered useless.
From the Western Region to the Ashanti, Eastern, and Central regions, the impact of galamsey is both visible and alarming. However, amidst this national crisis, the Upper West Region stands out as the only region in Ghana that has remained largely untouched by galamsey activities.
Several factors contribute to this remarkable exception.
First, the Upper West Region does not have the rich gold deposits that have fueled illegal mining in other parts of the country. This geological reality has spared the region from the intense scramble for minerals that often leads to environmental degradation.
Instead, the region’s economy is predominantly driven by agriculture, particularly the cultivation of crops such as millet, maize, and yam.
Moreover, there has been little commercial interest in mining in the Upper West Region. Without the presence of large mining firms, there is a lower likelihood of galamsey operations springing up in their wake, as often happens elsewhere.
The Upper West Region’s relative immunity to galamsey should be both celebrated and protected.
It offers a model of how regions can develop sustainably without succumbing to the pressures of illegal mining. As Ghana continues to battle the galamsey menace, the story of the Upper West serves as a reminder that preserving the environment is not only possible but crucial for future generations.
Source: Wikipedia/ Opera News
Enock Akonnor is an experienced Ghanaian journalist and currently serves as the CEO and Managing Editor of www.leakyghana.com.
With a wealth of expertise built over many years in the media industry, he has earned a solid reputation as one of Ghana’s most sought-after journalists.
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