Mahdi Gibril, the Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has assured Ghanaians that President John Dramani Mahama’s government is demonstrably committed to the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Mr. Gibril stated that despite the complexity of combating galamsey, President Mahama and his administration have exhibited strong leadership.
He specifically referenced the introduction of strict new regulations on the importation of excavators as a key measure.
Acknowledging the difficulty of restoring water bodies to their original state, Mahdi Gibril encouraged Ghanaians to maintain their trust in the government to effectively manage and resolve the problem.
Appearing on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5, he asserted that the previous government had failed to take decisive action against those involved in illegal mining, particularly those affiliated with former President Akufo-Addo and his party supporters.
The young politician stressed that the current government will be ruthless in dealing with galamsey. He pointed to the decision to establish permanent military bases in galamsey-prone areas and the ongoing activities of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations (NAIMOS) Task Force as measures that are already yielding positive results.
“We don’t deny that galamsey remains a threat to our safety and security; however, the ruling government led by President John Dramani Mahama remains committed to fighting it,” he told host Kwabena Agyapong. “He will be meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and I am hopeful the meeting will yield positive results.”
Mr. Gibril stressed that the crisis demands a collective approach and cautioned against the politicisation of the issue, which he suggested is being driven by some, especially the NPP. He also admonished those who have taken entrenched positions on the matter to reconsider.
“The NPP is not the yardstick for measuring the performance of this government. We are not saying people should not demand action from the government, but the NPP lacks the moral right and engages in double standards,” he argued.
“The water bodies were in a terrible state before they left office. As for galamsey, President John Dramani Mahama will solve it, and so Ghanaians should trust his government to deliver on that.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
