The Principal Investigator of the RID-funded University of Ghana Anti-Galamsey Research Project and Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Ghana, Professor Gladys Nyarko Ansah, has explained that fear of being tagged as anti-government is the primary factor preventing citizens from speaking out against obvious environmental wrongs in their communities.
She made these remarks during an interview on Research and Innovation Agenda on Radio Univers, where she discussed findings from the RID-funded anti-galamsey project and emphasised the need for advocacy to help end illegal mining.
According to Professor Ansah, many Ghanaians are afraid to speak out against illegal mining.
“People know the wrong things that are happening, but they are afraid to speak up. Even in the communities, they are very much afraid to speak up. It appears people are gagged. They cannot openly and freely condemn that which they know is condemnable, and I find that sad,” she noted.
She described Ghana’s gold as a blessing and warned that unregulated mining could ruin the country’s future.
“God has blessed us. We have gold. If we are a serious people, we will find a more legitimate, regulated way to get the gold without destroying the environment and killing the people slowly. We are turning the blessing into a curse—not just for this generation, but for future generations,” she said.
She also raised concerns about the proliferation of advertisements promoting performance-enhancing drugs targeted at young people, questioning the long-term health implications for Ghana’s youth.
“Why is it that in Ghana, we are constantly making adverts about aphrodisiacs to a young population? Our population is young, and they are targeting all of them. And when they say it in the Ghanaian languages, it is even worse. I feel sorry for men, because if you cannot stand as a man, then it is the bitters for you. So in your 20s, you are hiring bitters as your lawyer to be sexually active—then when you are 40 and beyond, what will you drink?”
–
Story by Eunice Atiah | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Cindy Selasi Humade
