I've been following with amusement the clever slogans and social media debates by supporters of the two leading political parties regarding the future of our country. The big question is: do we need an upgrade or a complete reset in our development efforts?

In truth, the answer isn't straightforward. Given the current economic challenges, both approaches are needed. In some areas, we require upgrades to our work systems and policies, while in others, a complete reset is necessary, as merely upgrading would make things worse. So what’s the approach to illegal mining (commonly known as "galamsey") and the pollution of our water bodies?

Over the past week, I've noticed even staunch supporters of the ruling party calling for harsh measures to tackle the disastrous pollution of our water bodies caused by galamsey. Some have even suggested introducing a "shoot to kill" policy, similar to the past approach of burning excavators on site.

First, we need to examine how aggressively the manifestos of the two leading political parties address the destruction of our water bodies due to galamsey. Do they acknowledge this as an urgent problem requiring immediate and effective solutions? What do they propose to tackle this threat to our very survival?

I've always believed that the effective enforcement of our criminal laws could serve as a strong deterrent to whatever crime, and implementing laws effectively requires both rigorous enforcement and strong political commitment. However, society is primarily governed by moral values before legal ones. We are, first and foremost, moral beings. Until we agree as a society, community, and nation that wrong is wrong and right is right, progress will be slow and may take generations.

The elite and political class must curb their greed for wealth, or we must curb it for them. We can achieve this by refusing to encourage, defend, or support them and by actively condemning, naming, and shaming them. We hold this power, as demonstrated by the youth in Kenya and the trade unions in Ghana during the attempted sale of state-owned hotels. But, if we continue to simply complain on social media, nothing will change. We will keep witnessing the consequences of greed — our water bodies and fertile lands will remain polluted.

We must constantly remind ourselves through rituals, respect, and storytelling why integrity matters. We need to invest, through policy, in understanding why clean water and forest reserves are essential for our survival. Restoring our polluted waters and depleted forests requires more than just tweaking or upgrading policies and laws. It requires a profound change in how we live and acquire wealth. Not all money is good money; some wealth comes with a curse. We cannot carry on as if the sole purpose of life is an endless pursuit of riches.

Growing up, we had clean water and vast forests; now, many of them are gone and our appetite to finish what’s left is even stronger. Yet, galamsey existed in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, even before colonial times. Why were the waters clean then, and why were the forests not so depleted? Perhaps it's because our population has grown, or maybe it's now seen as the quickest way to make money or survive. Maybe we need to provide diverse employment opportunities for our young men who are being used as tools for galamsey.

In all the videos I’ve seen, I don’t see any elite or politician directly involved in the forests, but it's widely known that they are the ones with agreements or contracts with the investors — mostly Chinese, Indians, Lebanese, and other foreign nationals. Our political class and elites have the financial power to provide our youth with the heavy equipment needed for reckless mining. And when the youth also make some money, they invest in even more dangerous small equipment like 'changfan' (a type of mining machine introduced by the Chinese for alluvial mining) to further illegal mining, aiming to establish themselves as "big men."

We could "shoot to kill" these young men, but for every thousand killed, another thousand searching for work will take their place. Instead, we must target the sponsors, suppliers, and buyers of their gold. We need to guide these young people towards other sources of income besides galamsey.

Our economy must make it easier to build and sustain a household without resorting to illegal mining and corruption. Afterall, as stated by New Zealand’s politician, Norman Kirk, What a human being needs is “somewhere to live, something to do, and someone to love”.

Sammy Darko, the writer, is a Lawyer, an Anti-corruption advocate and Journalist.