by DETELLE BROKERS 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12TH SEPTEMBER, 2024
Accra, Ghana
The lives of current generation and generation yet unborn are seriously at high risk as a result of, which members of the Ghana Association of Real Estate Brokers (GAREB) cannot sit aloof. As a professional body of Real Estate Agent and brokers, we understand extend of the dangers and threats illegal mining possesses to our working environment and the general public which we serve.
We support the declaration of a state of emergency to fight this. Land as it is belongs to dead, the living and a countless host of generation yet unborn. The effects of illegal mining are a serious threat to human lives now and beyond. In the times of COVID, the president said, “We can restore the economy but we cannot restore human lives”.
The destruction of these illegal mining goes beyond the current generation living. According to the Pediatrician Society of Ghana (PSG), they have recorded some babies being born with deformities and cancer. The pollution cause to the land that may result low productivity in food production in the agricultural sector, hence a threat to national food security and safety Research have shown that, faster rate at which the chemical used in these activities travels through the ground ends up polluting our water table hence making water from boreholes more dangerous to human health. Destroying underground water has not been enough, the surface water like our rivers that Ghana Water Company treat for domestic use has been polluted. This requires the use of more chemicals to treat water for the domestic use, which makes water expensive and a bit harmful. The air that we breathe is also at risk due to the smoke from their operation release. Burnt mercury released into the atmosphere is very dangerous to human lives.
It is a matter of urgency for an inclusive fight to end this menace. We sound a strong signal to our politician not to play politics with this serious issue. It is time for all to understand, that the revenue from these activities cannot compensate the loss of current lives, deformities in some children born recently and the diseases that are posing a serious threat to our human capital. We cannot watch our children importing water into the country. THIS IS NOT WHAT OUR FATHERS LEFT FOR US.
The president, security agencies and the entire government machinery must put away political affiliation and end this now. We call on increase transparency and accountability in mining concessions.
Ghana Association of Real Estate Brokers
