My attention is drawn to the continuous exploitation and unregulated mining activities in the above-mentioned communities as seen in few photos that went viral on social media; relative to the activities of artisanal and small-scale miners in Grand Kru; and continue to be a significant concern in Liberia, particularly in rural communities where artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is prevalent. ASM is an informal mining activies that employs manual labor, simple tools, and often lacks formal regulation.
This mining process involves digging pits or tunnels to extract minerals such as gold, diamonds, and iron ore. The use of mercury for amalgamation during gold processing poses significant health risks. Mercury exposure can lead to neurological damage, kidney damage, and respiratory problems. The lack of protective equipment and proper ventilation exacerbates these risks.
Unregulated mining also has severe environmental consequences. Mining activities lead to deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, and land degradation. Mercury contamination of water sources can harm aquatic life and affect food security for local communities. The question is who is monitoring these unregulated activities and exploitation of these resources and who are the actors behind the scene? Are the direct inhabitants of these communities benefiting from the exploited resources and what are the social and economic benefits towards the people?
he Liberian government has signed several international treaties in recognizing the need for regulation in the mining sector to mitigate health and environmental risks. In 2015, Liberia ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which aims to reduce mercury emissions globally. The Ministry of Lands, Mines, and Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency-(EPA) need to design a robust monitoring system to help save and guide the environment from degradation and water pollution and help curtail the massive exploitation of the resources without direct benefits to the people. I am calling on the office of President H.E. Joseph N.Boakai to mandate his agents at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy to dispatch a team of investigators into the above mention community to be precise Forpoh and Bolloh to arrest the situation unfolding and other rural communities where there is unregulated and full skilled Artisanal and Small-scale mining ongoing at the detriment of the environment and the people. It is my prayer and hope that this article claim the attention of local and international environmental institutions in Liberia and across the globe.
“ Man and Nature need to coexist in harmony-when we protect nature carefully, it rewards us generously; when we exploit nature ruthlessly, it punishes us without mercy..” –President Xi Jinping
