Erosion of values fuels Ghana's galamsey and sanitation crisis, says Chief of Staff

Ghana's Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has identified the erosion of the nation's traditional heritage and values as a significant contributing factor to the country's escalating sanitation challenges and the persistent problem of illegal mining, known as galamsey. He argued that Ghanaians have moved away from traditional practices that fostered communal responsibility and a deep respect for the environment.

Speaking at the Clean Conference in Accra, themed 'Assessing Ghana’s Progress Towards the UN SDGs,' Debrah stated, "We are now having issues with sanitation and struggling with galamsey because we have dropped our heritage." The conference convened government officials, diplomats, and civil society organizations to evaluate Ghana's progress on Sustainable Development Goals amidst growing pollution concerns.

Debrah emphasized the need to revive an appreciation for Ghana's cultural heritage and traditional values to tackle pressing social and environmental issues. He recalled that traditional Ghanaian societies possessed established systems that encouraged citizens to protect shared resources, maintain clean surroundings, and respect the natural world. The decline of these values, he noted, has fostered attitudes that permit the degradation of environmental assets, including water bodies and forests.

Furthermore, Debrah asserted that the fight against galamsey requires more than just enforcement and government initiatives; it necessitates a fundamental shift in citizen attitudes. He appealed to Ghanaians, especially the youth, to reconnect with their heritage and learn from traditional practices that promoted environmental stewardship and social responsibility. The Ga Mantse, Nii Teiko Tsuru II, echoed these sentiments in a separate address, highlighting the historical importance of sanitation and communal responsibility in Ga culture and advocating for a stronger role for traditional institutions in environmental education.

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We are now having issues with sanitation and struggling with galamsey because we have dropped our heritage.