The Pro vice-chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Prof. Elllis Owusu-Dabo has stressed the importance of the illegal mining fight in fulfilling ideals of Agenda 2063.

Speaking at a webinar themed: “Gold or health? Ghana’s environment under siege”, he was worried Ghana’s contribution can be stymied by the menace.

“In all the 20 goals of agenda 2063, every one of them hinges on ensuring that we preserve our environment,” he noted.

The webinar dubbed, Health in Africa Series, is spearheaded by the University of Toronto, Canada in collaboration with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

Prof. Owusu-Dabo who is also a public health physician and Principal Investigator of the Mastercard Foundation Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative highlighted the negative impact of the menace in achieving especially the Sustainable Development Goals.

He pointed out the need to engage in national multi-stakeholder dialogue to adequately deal with the situation.

“In the last six, seven years there have been much effort but it’s clear we’re not winning but it’s important for us to confront the situation and preserve the land, if not for ourselves, defiantly the future of our children.

“The fight has been left to the media and I don’t think it’s right. Academia, mother, child, opinion leaders, chiefs politician, we have to rise up and fight," he said.

He also recommended the creation of entrepreneurial opportunities and academia-government engagement to gradually reduce activities of illegal miners.