Stonebwoy campaigns against illegal mining with new song “Greedy Men” | Watch video here
For decades, illegal small-scale gold mining in Ghana (often known as galamsey) has ravaged our country. Illegal mining is not only dangerous from a safety perspective for individuals who want to engage, but it also fosters risky behavior, which has negative ramifications limiting the country’s progress.
Stonebwoy, an elite Ghanaian musician is presently playing a significant role as a whistle-blower, speaking out against the country’s expanding peril heavily carried out by Chinese nationals. His latest conscious reggae track dubbed “Greedy Men” paints a realistic image of what it’s like to be a Ghanaian living in or near mining areas.
Listen to the song here on Digital Stores: kv-online-talent.lnk.to/SBGMM
Highlighting some of the effects this activity has on the country in the song, the award-winning artiste spoke about the economic loss, greater loss of life and property, poisoning of soil and groundwater, biodiversity loss, chemical leakages, and other long-term negative repercussions the activity is having on the country.
“Because of illegal mining, cocoa production is declining. Deforestation and rise in violence are climbing every day. Many men shall die because of the greediness of another man,” Stonebwoy said in the song.
In the video of the song, he gives a vivid depiction of how these Chinese nationals engage in illegal gold mining in Ghana in their quest for riches at the detriment of the people. He also exposed how these foreigners use the underprivileged as cheap labor in mines of communities where they labored long hours for peanuts to dig gold and other important minerals to profit themselves.
Stonebwoy explains that the song is timely as the menace of galamsey do not only affect the indigenes but the entire nation. He added that the fight is a collective one which should not be left to government alone
Social media is already awash with excitement just hours after its release. The song is available on streaming platforms.
A report done on galamsey by Arnaud Liege says, “nationally galamsey represents huge sums in lost revenue and exports. In 2016, the Ghanaian government lost an estimated $2.3 billion in fiscal revenues through illegal mining. In comparison, the country’s top three major foreign companies collectively produce more than a third of Ghana’s gold production and contribute to above 50% of government revenues.
Gold royalties alone paid to the government reached $207 million in 2019 from $42 million in 2007, led by the performance of key players in the past decade such as Kinross or the Galiano-Gold Fields joint venture. Given its scale both in terms of output and labour force – with more than three million people living off illegal mining – formalising galamsey practices would represent a critical fiscal boost for the country, even more so now that revenue generation is low on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Meanwhile, Stonebwoy has announced additional dates for his UK tour “Anloga Junction.” The three-city tour, which will feature Amaria BB, will take the GRAMMY-nominated musician to theaters and venues in three locations throughout the United Kingdom. He will perform at the O2 Academy Islington in London on November 21, the Academy 3 in Birmingham on November 25, and the O2 Institute 3 in Manchester on November 26.
Tickets now on sale: https://www.livenation.co.uk/artist-stonebwoy-1218944