Quite recently, President Joseph Nyuma Boakia raised alarm during a cabinet meeting over the escalating wave of illegal mining, and the influx of undocumented foreigners, especially Burkinabes into the country.
When foreigners unlawfully occupy our land while secretly mining within our parks, what obviously happens is that the nation suffers painful wounds, and the future generation stands to inherit a vacuum land.
Illegal mining destroys our forests, pollutes rivers, streams, and soil, and steals the wealth of future generations. Through greed, corruption, and destructive toil,
Wild animals lose their habitats, and nature begins to fade away and beautiful parks once filled with life slowly become barren and gray.
When outsiders seize community lands, local people are pushed aside, families lose farms and livelihoods and many suffer in silence being enveloped by grief.
Illegal mining can increase violence, encourage crime and social fear, weakens peace and national unity giving space for insecurity to grow year by year.
The youth may abandon education to chase quick money from the mines, while dangerous labor and exploitation destroy many promising lives.
Foreign exploitation without regulation can weaken national sovereignty, whenever leaders fail to protect the land giving the people the right to lose trust in the authority.
Toxic chemicals used in mining can poison water meant for all, thereby bringing sickness to innocent children while causing communities to fall. Our parks are national treasures, homes of biodiversity and pride; thus, they should be protected with wisdom not destroyed by greed disguised.
A nation that protects its environment, protects its future strength and peace, but a nation that tolerates illegal destructions may watch its prosperity decrease.
Let us defend our land with courage,
Let us preserve our forests and streams,
Let us reject illegal exploitation
And build a nation of hope and dreams.
