The Centre for Climate Change and Food Security (CCCFS)has identified illegal mining as a major threat to the country’s security in Ghana.
The Centre called on the Ghanaian government and relevant stakeholders in the country’s Agric sector to tackle the menace to ensure adequate food supply in the near future.
Deputy Director of Research (Food and nutrition security) at the Centre for Climate Change and Food Security, Jacob Sarfo (PhD) in a press statement on world food day warned that the county could face serious food crisis if unregulated mining activities on farmlands and close to water bodies is not unchecked.
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Ghana joined the CCCFS global community in celebrating this year’s World Food Day to promote awareness and action in support of those affected by hunger.
Leadership of CCCFS described the theme for the 2022 celebration “Leave no one behind” as relevant considering the current global happenings such as COVID-19, the war in Europe, the climate crisis as well as soaring fuel and food prices.
The statement challenged Ghana’s government to develop policies which more than ever protect the poor and vulnerable as they are the ones that are mostly affected by these global crises.
“CCCFS also would like to use this day to highlight the ongoing food crises in Ghana affecting the general populace and, consequently, the country’s development. First, Ghana is witnessing high levels of food insecurity, the statement read in part.
According to CCCFS, the Ghana Statistical Service in its 2022 Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability report estimated that a sobering 3.6 million Ghanaians are food insecure representing 11.6% of the country’s total population.
The Centre was most worried that almost 80% of the food insecure population in Ghana are the already poor and vulnerable who dwell in rural areas.
The Centre for Climate Change and Food Security disclosed that, Ghana recorded the highest increase in food prices (122%) in sub-Saharan Africa since the beginning of 2022).
CCCSF said the current food security concerns in the Ghanaian local front are direct effects of the ongoing global crises, rising inflation in the country and drought resulting from climate change.
The Centre predicts that more Ghanaians could be food insecure especially among the pro-poor if illegal mining is not properly dealt with.
“Furthermore, we would like to reiterate the extensive consequences of illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey,” (local name for illegal mining) on our food security targets.
With reports of farmers abandoning farming to be galamseyers and the impact of harmful chemicals from Galamsey on our soils and water bodies, our food production levels are projected to be low and unable to meet our food security needs and eventually exacerbate hunger and poverty’’ the statement stressed.
CCCSF therefore urged the government to implement actionable plans that can control illegal mining activities as well as policies that address the cause of high food prices and growing food insecurity in the country.
