GMA Petitioned Over Dr Ayew Afriyie’s Pro-Galamsey Statement

A Ghanaian medical doctor has petitioned the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) over what he deems as a pro-galamsey statement by his fellow medical doctor and parliamentarian, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie.

The statement, he noted, contradicts the position of the Association.

The petitioner, Samuel Ayeh, therefore wants the Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore Constituency summoned before it for accountability.

He argues that the statement by Dr Ayew Afriyie “represents the highest form of insensitivity and misconduct”.

“My fear is that his comments may be mistaken by the overwhelming unsuspecting populace as the official position of the over ten thousand ( 10,000) noble medical doctors in Ghana. His comments have brought the name of the association into grave disrepute and if leadership does not act, the image of the association will suffer irreparable damage going forward.

“I am therefore invoking the executive council’s power under article 24 of the association’s constitution for the council to summon him before the disciplinary committee for questions and apply appropriate sanctions which may include suspension from the association as provided for by the constitution.”

Dy Ayeh believes the summoning of the lawmaker by the Association will affirm its commitment to the fight against illegal mining.

Background
At a campaign event on September 28 2024, Dr Ayew Afriyie stated that banning galamsey would cost the governing party their Parliamentary seats and thereby their position against calls for the ban.

“They are doing everything possible to frustrate our votes in mining areas because they know we’re winning the seats around such areas. They want us to lose our seats in mining areas. But we will not stop galamsey today or tomorrow. Because there’s a difference between small-scale mining in the forest and the river bodies.”

This statement has attracted criticism and public backlash from all angles of the country.

Source:opemsuo.com