Gold prospecting at the Elmina beach
The discovery of gold on the beach of Elmina has understandably evoked mixed reactions from different interest groups.
For the thousands of unemployed youth and even the elderly within and without this historical town, it is manna from heaven, worth exploiting. Environmentalists on the other hand see the discovery as another challenge to their efforts to save our portion of mother earth from insensible human activity. We are on the side of the latter as are all Ghanaians with an understanding of the precarious situation of the environment.
Expectedly, the germane state agency charged with regulating mining activities, the Minerals Commission has waded into the gold discovery frenzy.
The intervention has already stirred emotions, with the prospectors spoiling for a fight. The Omanhene of the area has already tasted humiliation, having had his summons to the prospectors to meet him for a discussion turned down.
The words of caution from the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Benjamin Aryee, regarding the impact of the uncontrollable prospecting on the environment, should encourage action from all stakeholders.
According to him, one of the immediate impacts of the ongoing activities is shoreline degradation and the emanating exposure of the nearby communities to sea invasion. This could impact negatively on fishing, the preoccupation of the inhabitants of the area.
In as much as the gold continues to appear on the shoreline, the prospectors would resist any attempt at denying them this rare opportunity of enjoying the God-given mineral. The authentication by geologists that the substance being picked up is real gold has provided an impetus for the frenzy.
Indeed, the alarm bells being tolled are to ensure that the environment is not unduly disturbed more than anything else.
With a world heritage site in the neighbourhood, the Elmina Castle, the relic of the Portuguese engagement in this part of the world and the source of the name Elmina, A’ Mina, to wit in Portuguese the mine, it is important that we do all to stem the frenzy, lest the prospectors go beyond the beach towards the foundation of the former slave holding centre.
The uncontrolled and crude activities of the prospectors will pose serious threat to the earth’s crust, especially when they begin going beyond the surface. With the knowledge that there could be more gold underneath, some of which might possibly be what is appearing on the beach, the prospectors are ready to do anything including digging beneath the Castle during the wee hours of the night.
The defiance of those engaged in galamsey activities, even in the face of efforts at stopping them, is ample proof that the prospectors will put up a fight.
Perhaps, as someone suggested, an engagement with the prospectors by state players from the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency and traditional authorities, with a view to educating them on the danger their activities are posing to the environment, will be such a wonderful thing to do.
It would not be easy, especially given the failure of the Omanhene of the Edina Traditional Area to do same earlier. That notwithstanding, we should persevere, bearing in mind the repercussions of a failure.