THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
A coalition of groups has written a letter to Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo on the need to act without delay on illegal mining in the country.
The groups are concerned about ecocide and the damaging effect of illegal mining on human lives, animals and the environment in Ghana.
A delegation representing the Ghanaians presented the letter to the acting Ghanaian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, H.E. Mr. Damptey Asare, on Wednesday.
The delegation, led by London-based socio-political community group Africans For, is particularly concerned about ecocide and the destruction of the Ghanaian environment, particularly the pollution of waters and water beds which has rendered many drinking water sources unsafe.
The letter urges the Government to secure the affected areas, stop the illegal mining and begin the clean-up process, whilst also exploring alternative means of income for persons involved in illegal mining. It also urged the Government to ensure that those mining legally conform to environmental regulations.
The letter, which was copied to ministers and chiefs in Ghana, was co-signed by over 30 Ghanaians based at home and abroad, and several pan-Africanists.
Last month the Government issued a well-publicised ultimatum to illegal miners to cease operations.
Awula Serwah
