Popular Ghanaian comic actor Ebenezer Akwasi Antwi, also known as Dr. Likee, has added his voice to the growing calls to end illegal mining, locally referred to as galamsey.

Speaking in an interview with Bonah TV, Dr. Likee announced that his team will release a movie addressing the dangers of galamsey in November 2024. He expressed deep concern about the devastating effects of the practice on water bodies and public health in Ghana.

“Let us stop galamsey. People are contracting cancers and other diseases due to the toxins in our rivers. It affects everyone, young and old, as we all consume from it,” he emphasized.

He stressed that the galamsey issue transcends politics and shared that his upcoming movie aims to raise public awareness on the matter. “It’s not a political film,” he clarified.

Drawing comparisons from his experiences abroad, Dr. Likee lamented the stark contrast between clean water bodies in other countries and Ghana’s polluted rivers, which he described as looking like “tea.”

“Seeing how beautiful water bodies are abroad saddened me. Ours should look the same,” he said.

He called on Ghanaians to value and safeguard the nation’s natural resources, warning that failure to do so could result in future hardship. “God has blessed Africa with these natural resources. If we don’t protect what we have, we will be left wanting,” he cautioned.

Dr. Likee’s remarks come at a time when environmentalists, health professionals, clergy, and various advocacy groups are urging the government to take decisive action against galamsey to mitigate its growing environmental impact.