Sammy Gyamfi, National Communication Officer, National Democratic Congress(NDC) has said President Akufo-Addo has failed to show a genuine commitment to the fight against illegal mining and the protection of the environment in his backyard.
He said, His corrupt government has become an active enabler and promoter of the “galamsey” menace and the destruction of the environment in a way that affronts the SDGs of the United Nations.
Addressing the media in Accra, Sammy Gyamfi said president has proven to be unfit for the prestigious position of Co-Chair of the UN SDGs Advocates, for which reason he must be removed without delay and said NDC is convinced beyond doubt that the United Nations will act in the interest of the Ghanaian people, the international community and the environment.
According to him, the NDC shall in the coming days, petitions the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, to revoke the appointment of President Akufo-Addo as Co-Chair of the SDG Advocates.
The NDC further demands, that the Akufo-Addo Government as a matter of urgency, should fully account for all items seized as listed in paragraph 801 of the 2020 Budget Statement presented to Parliament. “We insist that a public exhibition of all 900 excavators, 2,779 weapons and ammunition and the 4,045 other mining equipment confiscated must be held in the spirit of transparency and to the benefit of all Ghanaians. We are terrified at the prospect of all these weapons finding their way into the hands of hoodlums belonging to NPP vigilante groups in an election year.”
The NDC government set up anti-galamsey taskforce in May 2013 to clamp down on the practice but proved futile.
Members of the anti-galamsey taskforce were the then Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, with then Minister for Defence, Mr. Mark Woyongo, then Minister for Interior Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, Dr. Joe Oteng Adjei, and Ms. Hannah Tetteh as members.
Former Environment Minister, Mahama Ayariga at that time said it is time for the government to regularize illegal small scale mining (galamsey) activities as a more proactive way to stop pollution of water bodies.
Mahama Ayariga says attempts to halt illegal mining activities have not yielded the desired results because “wherever there are mineral resources people will do everything and whatever it takes to be able to extract those resources”.
“I called Minerals Commission, I called the EPA, I called all the stakeholders and I said look, it looks as if we cannot stop them from mining so why don’t we help them to mine properly so that we avoid the pollution”, he said.
Source: mybrytfmonline/Kofi Atakora
