The document expresses deep anguish about the destructive effects of illegal mining (galamsey) on the land and future generations in Ghana. The author highlights the struggles faced by families due to depletion of resources and criticizes both local and governmental complicity in this environmental degradation. A passionate call for action emphasizes the need to protect natural resources for the sake of future prosperity and sustainability.

1. Galamsey
Why is death found in my pot?
My cup cannot be used to draw
The life I needed for sustenance
I am famished, exhausted because
Of the deprivation in the land
The cry of my children wakes me up
To defend their future,
Else underground men will snuff life out from
These little innocent future leaders

2. My wife had to travel far
To get a bowl of water
Vegetation to look after her estate
I have been in constant war
Against my own people who stood behind
The grants of licenses Obtained
To put my life and the future of my children under threat
Thought I knew all who are involved
But there is more to this act than meets the eye

3. I see men who wear decent dresses
Sit in offices and government owned parastatals
Supporting this horror shattering OUR future
My cry for help is followed by an action
To comfort me not to preserve my existence,
Future and children
Oh! My labor is for the good of all
It is to keep our natural asset
Pass on the resource for the generations
Now and yet unborn

4. Tears flowed ceaselessly as I see
The attitude of careless natives,
Chiefs and respected men behind this
Who will take his life in his hand
And address the damage done to my
Estate?
O my metropolitan village
Where and when will the help come
from?

5. Strangers pay to leave my estate
And resources as a waste
Indigenes pride themselves when they
are used
As tools to cause the damage to OUR
very future existence
Hmm! Ghana, my pride and the seat
Of Africa’s glory
Your neighbors are yelling
They call for your wake into action
To stop the damage wrecked
By the greed of a few

6. Stop the men who speak loud and clear
Against it in broad daylight
But perpetrate the evil at night
Contend to arrest the sheep in wolves’
clothing
That are killing OUR future slowly
Fight to protect the future of Ghana
And her neighbors

7. What lies in our great future…….?
To see men and women alive enjoying
The bounty harvest of our farmers and the
Lovely scene of trees and good water all around
Let’s join hands to displace
Our greed for gold for a future that will
Conserve our waterbodies
No! I say, No,
To Galamsey
No to the monsters invading Our water bodies
Peter Clay
globalpeter.clay@yahoo.com