NPP accuses govt of complicity in galamsey rise
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the government’s handling of illegal mining in recent times, describing it as complicit in the rise of illegal miners across the country.
At a news conference held at the party’s headquarters in Accra yesterday, the National Communication Director of the NPP, Richard Ahiagbah, said: “The fight to curb galamsey is challenging, but the lack of commitment from this government has exacerbated the situation, leading to the devastation of many of our forests”.
Mr Ahiagbah alleged that currently, the country’s forest reserves had been populated by recruited militants from La Cote d’Ivoire and other regions to protect the “galamsayers” who, he alleged, were National Democratic Congress (NDC) members.
He emphasised: “Currently, mining has devastated 44 out of the 288 forest reserves in Ghana. At this rate, we risk losing all these forests to galamsey.
“The NDC is complicit in the astronomical growth of illegal mining because they campaigned actively in galamsey areas with a coded promise, which translates to allowing the boys to engage in galamsey.
“With the NDC government in power, its members and supporters within the galamsey space have begun to dig in our forests for gold while the government intensifies discussions about combating galamsey without taking meaningful action,” he claimed.
Mr Ahiagbah mentioned that forest reserves in the Offin Shelter Belt, Kyenkeynso and Gyaare in Akoasi, Tano Anwia forest in Aowin, the Asenyano forest reserve, and the Jimira forest reserve in the Nkawie District have been taken over by illegal miners who attacked and injured members of the Forestry Commission’s rapid response team.
Revocation of L.I
The Communication Director of the NPP accused President John Dramani Mahama of going back on his promise to revoke the Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462 and instead offered to amend the law to remove the President's power to approve applications to mine in forest reserves.
Journalists in Accra
He emphasised that amending the instrument would not suffice considering the rate at which forests were being attacked with armed protection from outside sources.
He advocated a “complete repeal of the law”, which, he said, was necessary to ensure a total ban on mining in forest reserves.
Call and Commendation
Mr Ahiagbah called on Ghanaians to speak up on the menace to help protect the country’s environment.
“We cannot afford to remain indifferent. We urge all Ghanaians to join this fight to protect our environment and water bodies for ourselves and future generations,” he stated.
He commended the Media Coalition against Galamsey, led by Dr Ken Ashigbey, and Erastus Asare Donkor, a journalist, along with civil society organisations, for their dedication to the fight.
Human Rights abuse
Mr Ahiagbah also condemned the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, for holding a media briefing to try some persons accused of potential acts of corruption in the media rather than in the courtroom. That, he described as, “persecution, not prosecution”.
He argued that the government was not interested in prosecuting corruption because one of its landmark decisions since taking office was to file “nolle prosequi” to clear all its members standing trial for acts that pertained to corruption.
