‘Galamsey’ Is A Crime Against Humanity ….Prof. Gatsi

Dean of the School of Business and Finance at the University of Cape-Coast, Prof. John Gatsi, has warned that illegal mining which the Ghana government appears to be heavily involved in, is a crime under international law. In a write-up he warns that those making light of the issue are trivializing crimes against humanity per international law. “Clean environment and clean access to water are integral part of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) looking forward to 2030 and a major part of the African Union ‘s agenda 2063. Clean water and clean environment are human rights issues. “In 2017 , the ICC considered matters relating to destruction of the environment,” he notes. He also points out that the ongoing crime against the environment is counter-intutive to Ghana’s ratification of the Sustainable Development Goals since clean environment is one of the goal posts of the SDGs. “Deliberate pollution of water bodies as crime against humanity. Ghana ratified and adopted SDGs , our own constitution protects these rights and the International Criminal Court also affirmed that such crimes are not only against the environment but also human life. “It seems we are treating galamsay issues as normal political entertainment. Those who engaged in it in recent times with heavy equipment polluted rivers, streams and water courses must begin to appreciate the type of crime they have and continue to commit. “Those who participated one way or the other must be told about their involvement in crime against humanity. Those who discuss and write about galamsay should press the crime against humanity button.”

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