Veteran Ghanaian actor, Fred Amugi, has raised thought-provoking questions about the seeming silence of traditional deities in the ongoing battle against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking in a sideline interview with Citi News at an event to mark this year’s World Rivers Day, Amugi wondered why river deities, long revered in Ghanaian culture for their power and guardianship, appear to have been silent as galamsey activities continue to ravage water bodies across the country.
“Where are the deities?” he queried, pointing to the growing pollution of rivers and water bodies, which in times past were believed to be under strict spiritual protection.
The menace of galamsey has left devastating scars on Ghana’s environment, destroying farmlands, contaminating drinking water, and threatening biodiversity. While state institutions, civil society, and the media continue to call for a stronger fight against the practice, Amugi’s concerns highlight another dimension—the cultural and spiritual cost of environmental degradation.
He further lamented that galamsey is not only an ecological disaster but also an erosion of Ghana’s traditional values and beliefs, which once placed rivers and other natural resources at the center of community life.
Amugi’s remarks add to the growing chorus of voices demanding urgent, decisive action to curb the menace and preserve Ghana’s rivers for future generations.
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