The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has urged Akufo-Addo to take the risky step of prosecuting his appointees for illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
According to the party, those who destroy our water bodies and forest reserves in the name of illegal mining are murderers.
At a press conference held at the party’s headquarters on Thursday, October 6, 2022, the party’s communication officer lawyer Sammy Gyamfi stated that the president must take action against his appointees if he wants Ghanaians to take him seriously.
”Number one, we demand the immediate prosecution of all government functionaries and NPP officials who have engaged in illegal mining such as Charles Bissiw, Chairman Wonyumi; the evidence is clear, the Minerals Commission, your own minister for Lands and Natural Resources say Chairman Wontumi is doing galamsey in the Tano Reserve. You don’t need any other evidence before you can prosecute him. Andy Owusu, Ekwow Ewusi, and Prof. Frimpong Boateng among others. This will be the first step to your redemption and serve as a deterrent to other people within your government and party.”
He stated that the move would send a clear message to Ghanaians that anyone caught engaging in galamsey would face severe consequences.
He also demanded that all mining companies owned by NPP officials that have illegally invaded our forests be closed down and their assets confiscated.
He also suggested that they be charged for the disruption they had caused to our environment.
Security personnel who are complicit in the threat, he added, must be investigated and fired to serve as a deterrent to others.
”Mr. President, until you take the above actions faithfully, the so-called renewed fight against galamsey will remain a mirage and a mere talk show. You would be remembered by prosperity as the President who promoted illegal mining through his appointees, party functionaries, and foreign collaborators and supervised the worst destruction of our environment.”
He stressed that the NDC was not against mining in principle but against illegal mining particularly mining in water bodies and irresponsible mining that destroy our environment without any reclamation.
The NDC he concluded is also against the ”hypocrisy of government officials who after destroying the businesses of legal small-scale miners have turned around to engage in the menace with brazen impunity”.
By: Rainbowradiooline.cocm/Ghana
