UTAG to Pressure Government Over Galamsey Fight – Dr. Ivy Fiador

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has announced plans to embark on a series of actions to pressure the government into intensifying the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. The Association insists it will hold the state accountable for what it describes as the continuous destruction of Ghana’s environment, particularly its rivers, water bodies, and forest reserves.

Speaking to the media, the newly elected President of UTAG, Dr. Ivy Fiador, revealed that the Association is finalising a set of measures that will soon be rolled out to demand decisive action from the authorities. She emphasised that the country’s long-term survival is at stake if urgent steps are not taken to combat the menace.

“Water is an essential thing, and that is what we drink. Now it may look like it is far away from us. In a few years, we are likely to be battling more diseases than we normally would. Already, as a nation, we are financially challenged,” Dr. Fiador warned. She further explained that while galamsey may appear to provide employment opportunities, the long-term cost of restoring degraded lands and polluted water far outweighs its short-term economic benefits.

The UTAG President stressed that unchecked galamsey activities pose a severe threat not only to public health but also to the nation’s economic stability. In the meantime, President John Dramani Mahama is scheduled to meet with over 60 civil society organisations on Friday, October 3, to deliberate on practical strategies aimed at ending illegal mining in the country.