A headmaster and a teacher have mentioned that money is the singular motivator for them to quit teaching for illegal small-scale mining (galamsey).
According to them, the paltry monthly salary of GH¢500 and GH¢200 that they used to receive was not enough thus they had to venture into galamsey to survive.
According to a 3NEWS.COM story, Mr Fiakodzie stated that he used to make $200 per month as a teacher, but that he now makes $300 per day from gaming.
Although he enjoys teaching, he feels that galamsey gives him the best chance to support himself.
“I stopped teaching because of financial difficulties. I could get money to cater for my wife and children because I was being paid ¢500 and so, I decided to quit to go into galamsey.”
“I stopped teaching just a year ago. I earned ¢200 when I was teaching but I stopped to do galamsey and by the Grace of God, I make ¢300 a day from the galamsey.”