Create alternative livelihoods for persons in ‘galamsey’ affected areas – CSIR, GAEC researchers

The government has been urged to commit to creating alternative livelihoods for persons affected by illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.

This, according to a joint statement issued by the Research Staff Association (RSA) and the Research Scientists Association (RSA) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), will discourage people living in galamsey-affected areas from returning to the practice.

Galamsey has gained nationwide reportage in recent weeks due to its unregulated and destructive nature.

Organisations including the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and the Federation of Labour have all raised concerns about the health implications of galamsey and demanded that the government place a ban on all mining activities until a sustainable solution is found.

The researchers from CSIR and GAEC, in their statement, suggested that alternative livelihood programmes must be instituted in galamsey communities to enhance the economic power of residents. "The government must prioritise the creation of alternative livelihoods for those involved in illegal mining, particularly youth and displaced farmers.

Job creation programmes, vocational training, and access to financial services for small businesses should be expanded in galamsey-affected areas. "Such livelihood programmes should be instituted in such a way that they offer similar or better economic value compared to the earnings from the galamsey operations." The researchers also urged the government to embark on a reclamation drive to restore all degraded lands and forest reserves across the country. "We urge the government to initiate a comprehensive national programme for the reclamation of lands destroyed by galamsey.

This should include reforestation initiatives and the restoration of polluted water bodies, with priority given to communities most affected by the environmental damage. "The government must collaborate with research institutions like GAEC and CSIR to employ innovative technologies in land reclamation and water purification."