Illegal mining activities threaten women and families in Akorabuokrom

Women in Akorabuokrom, a farming community in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region, have voiced concerns over the detrimental effects of illegal mining activities, known as galamsey, on their families and communities.

During a solidarity march organized by SOKODEVI as part of activities marking the 2024 International Women’s Day, the women highlighted the alarming rate at which galamsey activities were destabilizing marriages, leading to fatalities, and causing children to engage in unhealthy behaviours.

According to the women, school children as young as 12 to 15 years old have been lured into illegal mining activities, forsaking their education and adopting risky lifestyles. Tragically, many children have lost their lives after falling into uncovered pits left behind by galamsey operations in neighbouring communities.

While illegal mining does not directly occur in Akorabuokrom itself, husbands and children from the community travel to adjoining areas to participate in galamsey, leaving behind fractured families and disputes.

Nana Atta Pokua, the Queen mother of Akorabuokrom, urged women to take proactive measures to dissuade their children from partaking in illegal mining activities, emphasizing the importance of securing a promising future for them.

Dr. Rosemary Akolaa, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, underscored the urgent need for Ghanaians to recognize the grave threats posed by galamsey to both the environment and socio-economic development. She warned that if left unchecked, illegal mining could lead to irreversible environmental degradation and hinder progress.

Ms Omolara Aka Oyelakun Tay, a Gender Specialist at SOKODEVI, highlighted the disproportionate impact of illegal mining on women, particularly in rural communities where women bear the brunt of domestic responsibilities, including fetching water. With water bodies destroyed by galamsey activities, women are forced to travel longer distances in search of clean water, exacerbating their burden.

The women of Akorabuokrom have called for collective action to address the menace of illegal mining, safeguarding their families, environment, and future generations.