Ing. Ken Ashigbey of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey has stated that while President John Dramani Mahama may have been brief in his comments on the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), he believes the President was justified.
In an interview with Myjoyonline.com, Ken Ashigbey admitted that he initially felt President Mahama needed to address multiple issues surrounding galamsey to reassure the public of his commitment to tackling the menace.
“I was indeed worried that I did not hear him touch on some of the key issues like the LI 2462, the militias, and all that, and then I chanced upon a video of the Lands Minister addressing the issues. The Minister touched on everything to be said. So if the President speaks the way he spoke at the SONA, that is fine,” he said.
According to Ashigbey, the President’s remarks focused on proactive measures already being taken rather than outlining future plans.
“Once President Mahama says proactive steps are being taken to deal with galamsey, he is talking about the actions that are being taken already and not what he plans to do,” he added.
He urged citizens to support both the President and the Lands Minister in the fight against illegal mining.
“My dedication as a citizen to this mission from God is to help win the war against galamsey and return Ghana to the path of responsible and sustainable mining that develops our country,” he emphasized.
“Let’s all rally around this call from the Minister to defeat the enemy in this war—the galamsey war—to save the soul of our country. #StopGalamseyNow,” he added.
Several others, including Finance and Economics Professor at the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), Godfred Bokpin, shared similar concerns, expressing disappointment with the brevity of President Mahama’s comments on galamsey in his address and calling for more detail.
Lands Minister Issues Stern Warning to Illegal Miners and Attackers of Journalists
Meanwhile, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, has issued a strong warning to illegal miners and individuals attacking journalists reporting on environmental issues.
He stressed that President Mahama will not intervene on behalf of anyone involved in illegal mining, stating, “The President will not call anybody, nor should anybody, and that’s why we are here. So we are empowering you to do your job.”
Addressing recent assaults on journalists covering the issue, Minister Kofi-Buah declared, “Let me use the opportunity to also warn those who attacked these journalists in the last few days: your time is up.”
He acknowledged the arrest of some perpetrators and assured that the government is collaborating with law enforcement to ensure all involved are prosecuted.
“For those who are fighting to keep us alive, we will not allow anybody to touch them,” he stressed.
Highlighting the environmental devastation caused by galamsey, the Minister called for collective action, describing the situation as a “war at the heart and soul of our survival as a people.”
He urged Ghanaians to join the fight against illegal mining, citing the severe impact on major rivers and the nation’s future.
Kofi-Buah also announced ongoing legal proceedings against arrested individuals, including seven Chinese nationals and their eight accomplices, who have been arraigned before the courts.
He revealed that discussions are underway with the judiciary to establish dedicated courts for expedited prosecution of illegal mining cases.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reclaiming forest reserves and water bodies, stating that operations will continue until all illegal miners are apprehended and their equipment seized.
He noted that the President has directed that confiscated equipment be repurposed for public use, such as road construction.
“For those who have doubts about our commitment to this fight, please trust us. We are going to fight all the way to the end, doing the right mining, but we are not going to spare anybody who ventures to do illegal mining in our forests,” he assured.
He also mentioned forthcoming legislative measures, including a bill to Parliament aimed at repealing certain provisions to strengthen the fight against illegal mining.
Issuing a final warning to those involved in illegal mining, the Minister declared, “We are coming after you. You have a choice: you leave now, or we arrest you and your co-conspirators.”
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