Renowned reggae icon and United Nations Ambassador, Rocky Dawuni, has made an impassioned appeal to Ghanaians to take urgent steps to combat the destructive illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey, which are depleting the nation’s natural resources.

In an interview with Hitz FM on September 12, 2024, Dawuni expressed his deep concern over the ongoing devastation of water bodies and other critical resources due to galamsey.

“Imagine the value of water, and we are destroying all our water bodies for the sake of immediate wealth. It’s a curse, and we need to rise up as a people and focus on ending this galamsey. As a UN Ambassador for the environment and Africa, people from different countries ask me, ‘What is going on?’ And I have no words to explain,” Dawuni lamented.

He emphasized the severe environmental and health risks posed by illegal mining, urging the public to acknowledge the long-term damage it causes.

“To all my people, let’s stand up and stop this—it’s robbing us of our future, poisoning our food chain with cyanide and mercury, and contaminating our water sources,” he warned. Dawuni explained how heavy metals from galamsey operations are making their way into water systems, affecting the entire population.

Rocky Dawuni’s plea adds to the growing voices calling for decisive action against galamsey, including the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which has threatened demonstrations and a nationwide strike if the government fails to act by the end of September.