The politicisation of illegal mining has made it extremely difficult to deal with the canker, which is now an existential threat to Ghanaians, the Executive Director of the Centre for Public Awareness and Opinion (CenPOA) has claimed.
The policy analyst believes politicians have refused to commit to dealing with the issue and would rather talk political advantage of it at the expense of Ghanaians.
He recounted how President John Dramani Mahama, while in opposition, made political capital out of the galamsey menace and promised to deal with it if elected.
He noted that some communicators of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) chastised the previous administration and painted a picture as if only appointees of the then NPP government were involved in galamsey.
However, we have all seen over time that members of the ruling government were also involved in the illegal activity of destroying our water bodies and forest reserves.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Michael Donyina Mensah Ghanaians were expecting the NDC would have used the same speed with which it passed the Gold Board Bill in repealing the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2464, which granted permits for mining to be done in our forest reserves.
He quizzed if the NDC was prioritising the establishment of a Goldboard over the fight against galamsey, saying, ’We want President John Dramani Mahama to understand that galamsey was very topical during the general elections, and so he should not joke with it. If he fails to act, it will get worse.
“The galamsey problem will be difficult to deal with if we politicise it. During the electioneering period, funds from galamsey activities financed some political activities, and so it will be extremely difficult to fight it. You would have to be firm; otherwise, you can’t manage it. The challenge here is that it will be a different discussion altogether because the illegal miners who supported the politicians would also rise against you. Galamsey made former President Akufo-Addo and the NPP unpopular, and if President Mahama fails to address it as he promised while in opposition, it will affect the NDC.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
