We must eradicate poverty to end galamsey – Opare Addo

During his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee, George Opare Addo, the Minister-Designate for Youth Development and Empowerment, painted a compelling picture of a Ghana free from the environmental degradation and social consequences of illegal mining, or galamsey.

With a clear and passionate voice, he laid out a vision that resonated deeply with Ghanaians yearning for sustainable development.

“There is a Ghana we all want. I want a Ghana where illegal mining is not a part of it, but we do mining in a manner which is sustainable and won’t degrade the environment in any way,” he remarked.

Aligning his vision with that of former President John Dramani Mahama, Opare Addo emphasized the need for a unified front in tackling the menace.

He did not shy away from addressing the need for mindset shifts among the youth. “For young people who want to go into mining, we have to reset their minds.

“There is an old way that they have done things, and we must re-engage them to change from the old way they have done things,” he said.

This re-engagement, he argued, would involve equipping them with the skills and tools necessary for modern, sustainable mining practices.

Opare Addo also stressed the critical role of government institutions in driving this transformation.

“We are going to work together with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to look at sustainable ways of mining,” he assured.

“I have maintained that wherever there is gold and there is poverty, people will find a way of getting under the ground to find the gold.

“We must eradicate poverty from the areas we find ourselves, and if we have been able to do that effectively, by giving them alternative livelihoods, we may bring an end to illegal mining.”

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