Chief expresses worry over school children working in galamsey areas

Naba Sigri Bewong, Paramount chief of Sekoti Traditional Area in the Upper East Region, said on Wednesday that mining is a national canker that requires coordinated efforts by traditional rulers and people in authority to curb the menace.

Naba Bewong who spoke in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, expressed worry over the increase in ‘galamsey’ activities involving children of school going age in the Talensi-Nabdam District of the Upper East Region.

He observed that the phenomenon was becoming a social canker and said it did not only endanger the lives of the children but also degraded the environment, adding that his traditional council had put up a number of educational programmes to sensitize the people on the dangers surface mining posed to their health as well as the social mishaps associated with it.

Naba Bewong said even though poverty could account for the actions of the youth to patronize galamsey activities, the lack of employment opportunities in the Region could also not be ruled out. He added that it was important every child got enrolled in school.

He appreciated government‘s  efforts to ease the financial burden of parents through the  provision of free school uniforms, the school feeding programme, and free exercise books and urged parents to take advantage of the incentives and send their children to school.

Recalling the 2010 theme of the area’s traditional ‘Tenglebgre’ Festival, “Education is a tool for development: Nabdams send your children to school”, Naba Bewong said a lot of advocacy was ongoing to promote education in the area.

He said funds raised during the festival would go into providing offices for teachers and classrooms which he termed ‘B stream’ for areas with high pupil population.

He expressed appreciation to organizations and individuals who in diverse ways brought development to the area and called for more assistance to the district.

Source: GNA