Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called for stronger action against illegal mining, warning that environmental destruction threatens Ghana’s water bodies, farmlands and the livelihoods of future generations.
In a Facebook post following a field visit to illegal mining sites in Osino, facilitated by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), she described the damage caused by mining activities and urged Ghanaians to prioritise environmental protection over short-term financial gains.
She warned that polluted rivers, degraded farmland and damaged ecosystems could have lasting consequences for public health and the country’s ability to sustain future generations.
“We cannot eat gold. We cannot drink gold. And no amount of wealth can replace our environment,” she wrote.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings stressed that protecting the environment was a shared responsibility requiring accountability and a change in attitudes towards Ghana’s natural resources.
As part of her tour of the Eastern Region, she also visited Zijin Mining’s operations at New Abirem, where she observed measures aimed at reducing environmental damage.
She said the company demonstrated how mining could be conducted with deliberate efforts to protect and restore the environment.
The practices highlighted during the visit included land reclamation, rehabilitation of mined-out areas and tree planting.
While acknowledging the importance of mineral resources to Ghana’s economic development, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings insisted that their extraction must not undermine water bodies, farmlands and the wellbeing of future generations.
“Responsible mining must not be the exception. It must be the standard,” she said.
