President Akufo-Addo is worried over the strong opposition his open fight against illegal mining (galamsey) is receiving, following the campaign for the menace in the bush by saboteurs.
This development, the President has said, would not yield positive results in the quest to safeguard the environment from the destructive operations of illegal mining.
His statement is indicative of a video which went viral on social media in the run-up to the 2020 general elections.
The video had some key members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), who were seen and heard encouraging and assuring illegal miners that if they voted for John Mahama and he wins the election, they would not be stopped from their illegal business.
The President’s statement also confirms reports of people in the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government and party whose actions and inactions have jeopardised the gains made since the fight was launched in 2017.
President Akufo-Addo was speaking in Accra yesterday, where he opened a two-day national consultative dialogue on small-scale mining.
According to President Akufo-Addo, when he called for a national conversation on galamsey in the early days of his second term, it was because he wanted the nation to have consensus on a sustainable method of minerals mining.
He continued: “It is not because I have any doubts about the need to protect our lands and our environment. We cannot have one part of the political divide campaigning for galamsey in the bush, and the other waging an official fight against galamsey in the open.
“We have had beautiful and majestic rivers and streams. Today, there is not much to celebrate about the Pra or the Birim, and there is not much to be excited about over our famed thick forests and the animals that inhabit them. Unacceptable mining and logging practices have laid them to waste.”
President Akufo-Addo indicated there was the need to demonstrate love for the land as citizens, and to prove that Ghanaians are capable of taking care of it.
He stressed that as a nation, we do not need foreigners to campaign for the protection of Ghanaian lands, nor special interest groups to campaign for the protection of the Ghanaian soil, flora and fauna.
“It is the land of our birth; it is the land we inhabit; it is the land that supports our lives and livelihoods; it is the land we named Ghana at independence 64 years ago, and we the Ghanaian people must be its best protectors. We must mean it when we sing Owura Amu’s song; ‘Y?n ara y?na saase ni; ?y? abuoden ma y?n. Mogya naa nananom hwiegu nya de tooh? maay?n… to wit, ‘This is our land; it is dear to us. Our forebears gave their blood so we would inherit it,’” he remarked.
Addressing stakeholders on the theme: “Sustainable Small-Scale Mining for National Development,” the President underscored that it was absolutely crucial that deliberations at the consultative dialogue be candid and devoid of partisanship or narrow parochial interests.
He was hopeful that at the end, the dialogue should be able to build a broad-based national consensus around the necessity to stamp out the menace of illegal small-scale mining and the need to support and grow responsible small-scale mining.
In his welcome address at the forum, organised by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources,, the sector Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, indicated that the people of Ghana expect the forum to provide answers to many lingering questions.
“For instance, how do we effectively regulate this industry? What reforms are required?
How do we mobilise finances for the players in the industry, and what role should the banks play? How do we generate community support, including the support of our chiefs? How do we deal with the financiers of illegal small-scale miners, who put young men into mining pits, whilst they receive the proceeds of such dangerous and criminal enterprises in the comfort of their homes and hotels? And in many cases, such persons never visit a mining site in their lifetime.”
He continued: “How do we deal with the illegal involvement of foreign nationals in the small-scale mining industry? How do we fashion out alternative livelihoods for those who will inevitably fall out of the cracks?
“Also, what can we learn from international best standards? What kind of enforcement regime is required which bites and does so without fear or favour? How do we name, shame, and punish politicians, chiefs, religious leaders, the elite, and people with money and influence who are promoters of criminal cartels in this industry?
“Should we, like other African countries, introduce medium scale mining in the structure of our mining industry? And if so, should foreign nationals participate in medium scale mining?”
The report from the forum, which ends today, according to the Minister, will pass the usual scrutiny and rigour of the Akufo-Addo Cabinet.
Political party representatives, traditional leaders, the clergy, miners and other stakeholders took part in the national consultative dialogue.
The post I am fighting Galamsey with vigour appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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