Andrews Kwame Pianim has added his voice to the damning consequences of illegal mining (galamsey) on reproductive health if not stopped immediately.
The renowned economist and statesman says the heavy metals that are being left on the environment –water bodies and soil –has dire consequences on the biological makeup of the citizenry if a drastic measure is not taken to end it.
He says the consumption of food and water containing the metals deposited in them through galamsey would potentially lead to the reproduction of children who would not be able to think for the development of the nation.
According to the founding member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), it affects the brain of children and make them deficient from thinking properly.
He says that would deprive the nation of the brains needed to administer the state in future, leaving the very minerals deposited in the country in the care of foreigners to mine and bequeath peanuts to the nation.
Mr. Pianim says a country loses the right to owning a natural resources if it is deposited on its land but lacks the know-how to use it.
“If water is polluted with lead, you know what lead does to your brain? It means you’re going to be bringing forth imbeciles who cannot think. If you do not have young people who are thinking, educated, ICT savvy and can have the technology and knowledge to mine your gold, foreigners come and mine it, they give you 5% and you say they’re giving you a pittance. The minerals don’t belong to you if you’re not smart to use it,” he said on Accra-based JoyNews Wednesday, October 17, 2024.
He reiterated the need to freeze all forms of small-scale mining for six months, urging all presidential aspirants to devise a scientific approach to ending the menace.
“So we freeze all licenses, freeze all operations, not for one year, six months. Everybody who is running to become president, should tell us their proposal now. What they’re going to do about it which entails scientific research.
Ayew Afriyie is a nation wrecker – Kwame Pianim takes on NPP MP over ‘galamsey’ comments
