The Vice-Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has urged political parties, especially the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to demonstrate their dedication to combating illegal mining, known as galamsey, by signing a “binding national anti-galamsey pact.”
He called on religious leaders, particularly the church, to spearhead the engagement of stakeholders in developing this national anti-galamsey pact.
According to Dr Prempeh, this pact should provide a comprehensive roadmap to address the galamsey issue, which poses a severe threat to the environment and human life.
Affectionately known as “Napo,” Dr. Prempeh made this appeal while speaking at the 13th Biennial Delegates Conference of the Association of Methodist Men’s Fellowship at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on September 14, 2024.
He emphasized the need for political parties to show their commitment by signing the proposed pact, which would be built on national consensus.
Dr. Prempeh questioned former President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to fighting illegal mining, referencing incidents where NDC officials allegedly encouraged illegal miners and Mahama’s 2020 promise to grant amnesty to imprisoned illegal miners.
Despite challenges, Dr. Prempeh assured the church and Ghanaians that the NPP is steadfast in its fight against illegal mining.
He affirmed that under the leadership of Dr. Bawumia and himself, the NPP would willingly sign the anti-galamsey pact to reaffirm their dedication.
Napo also pointed out that the NPP’s 2024 manifesto includes a detailed plan to tackle illegal mining, promote responsible small-scale mining, and safeguard the environment and water bodies.
Source: Adomonline
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