Popular stand-up comedian and commentator Kwaku Suntim-Misa aks KSM has expressed his disappointment with the current fight against illegal mining (galamsey) in the country.
He has stated that no government has the will to stop the menace.
In a submission on his YouTube handle, KSM noted how galamsey has been a source of livelihood for over 1 million Ghanaians who are directly or indirectly involved in it.
According to him, due to the political ramifications, no government had the urgency to prevent it.
“Galamsey has become a source of livelihood for so many people. Over 1 million people are actively involved in or depend on galamsey to survive.
“So tell me this, which government has the boldness to come out and say, ‘We are stopping galamsey ‘ knowing that the people who depend on it are in the millions and they need votes to survive??” he asked.
KSM further pointed out the promises made by past and present governments, adding that he has yet to see any tangible action being taken by them.
“The former President said he was putting his presidency on the line. President Mahama said he will do everything he can to stop galamsey.
“But I’m yet to see any political party that will boldly take action to solve galamsey. And it seems that the reason we haven’t been able to solve this is because we haven’t sat down to understand galamsey,” he said.
Galamsey Fight: Asiedu Nketiah shoots down calls for declaration of state of emergency
He blamed the current crisis on a lack of proper regulations and a lack of education for the public, stating that proactivity from the government is necessary.
“If we had brought proper regulations and education to explain that this is wrong, we wouldn’t be in their situation now. At least the government is taking steps to understand this, and they have set up the GOLDBOD.
“As for the fight against galamsey, the narrative must change. It must be about protecting our forests and water bodies.
“The regulations should also prevent anybody from just getting up to say, ‘I’m a miner’ and doing whatever they want,” he said.
ID/EB
Watch the full interview below: