Stonebwoy joins fight against illegal mining

For decades, illegal small-scale gold mining in Ghana known as galamsey has ravaged our country.

Illegal mining is not only dangerous from a safety perspective for individuals who want to engage, but it also fosters risky behaviour, which has negative ramifications limiting the country’s progress.

Stonebwoy, an elite Ghanaian musician is presently playing a significant role as a whistle-blower, speaking out against the country’s expanding peril heavily carried out by Chinese nationals. His latest conscious reggae track dubbed “Greedy Men” paints a realistic image of what it’s like to be a Ghanaian living in or near mining areas.

Singing about some of the effects this activity has on the country, the award-winning artiste spoke about the economic loss, greater loss of life and property, poisoning of soil and groundwater, biodiversity loss, chemical leakages, and other long-term negative repercussions the activity is having on the country.

“Because of illegal mining, cocoa production is declining. Deforestation and rise in violence are climbing every day. Many men shall die because of the greediness of another man,” Stonebwoy said in the song.

In the video, Stonebwoy highlighted how these Chinese nationals engage in illegal gold mining in Ghana in their quest for riches at the detriment of the people.

He also highlighted how the foreigners use the underprivileged as cheap labour in mines of communities where they laboured long hours for peanuts to dig gold and other important minerals to profit themselves.

Social media is already awash with excitement just hours after its release. The song is available on streaming platforms.

Elaborating on his reason more for embarking on such social responsibility project on Citi TV, the Bhim Nation president said as a concerned citizen, he thought it wise to add his voice to the fight against illegal mining which is endangering the lives of other people.

“It [the scourge of galamsey] hit me especially when I did the Boss Energy tour when I went all the way to Bawku. When I saw certain things, I was really touched. And I said to myself I sung Run Go and all the other conscious songs but this would be another time to put this one also onto a record and speak about it because it’s affecting society,” he said.

Reacting to the song, Lands Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor thanked Stonebwoy for his interventions adding that the initiative by the musician is noble and patriotic.

“From the very beginning, on the instructions of President Akufo-Addo, we’ve been working to ensure that our renewed commitment and effort to sanitise the small-scale mining sector are broad-based, multi-faceted, and involving of all the stakeholders and actors in our society,” he said in an interview on Citi TV.

Mr. Jinapor urged all Ghanaians to join the fight adding that illegal mining is a national problem, thus the consequences affect all.

Meanwhile, Stonebwoy has announced additional dates for his UK tour “Anloga Junction.”

The three-city tour, which will feature Amaria BB, will take the GRAMMY-nominated musician to theaters and venues in three locations throughout the United Kingdom.

He will perform at the O2 Academy Islington in London on November 21, the Academy 3 in Birmingham on November 25, and the O2 Institute 3 in Manchester on November 26.