Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwesi Amoako Atta, has revealed some illegal miners, popularly known as “galamsayers” in Ghana, attempted to bribe him in the run-up to the 2016 general elections.
The Member of Parliament for Atiwa West said a high-powered delegation of illegal miners attempted to lure him with the sponsorship of his campaign should he allow them to continue mining in his constituency.
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The Minister revealed this on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Tuesday while commenting on the devastating effects of illegal mining in his constituency.
He said he had been agonizing and grieving over the incalculable damage galamseyers, mostly made up of Chinese nationals, have inflicted on the lands and rivers, especially in the Eastern Region.
As an anti-galamsey campaigner, Hon Amoako Atta demanded “ruthless enforcement of the law” as the first step towards fighting the canker.
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Galamsey is dirty mining to me because it has wreaked havoc in my constituency; I have vowed to fight it with my last breath,” he opined.
The Roads Minister, however, bemoaned the “big men phenomenon” behind the illegal miners which are thwarting the effort of government.
“Powerful people like politicians, chiefs and businessmen have invested heavily in galamsey but we should fight galamsey with all the powers at our disposal,” he stressed.
Hon Amoako Atta commended President Akufo-Addo for the ban on galamsey and called for all hands on deck to salvage our national resources.