The President of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana, (UTAG), Prof. Eric Abavare, has descended on the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin over his silence in the advocacy against illegal mining.
In his words, the Speaker is sleeping.
Prof Abavare was expecting to see the same energy the 67-year-old channelled into the fight against Lesbianism, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ) while the legislature was trying to pass a bill against the act.
He is disappointed to see an issue of national concern as galamsey hasn’t attracted the attention and voice of the Speaker.
“We have a parliament. The parliament of Ghana is headed by Hon Speaker Kingsford Alban Bagbin. We all know in this country when the issue of LGBTQ came, we all saw how vociferous that man was in the fight. What has he done in the case of Galamsey?
“He has gone mute, deaf and dumb. If indeed he is committed to galamsey fight, he should champion the cause just like he did in the case of the LGBT then we know the government is working but he is sleeping. As far as I am concerned, he is sleeping. The Speaker of Parliament is sleeping,” he told CNR in an interview.
He also criticized the posture of the judiciary saying it has failed as an arm of government.
“Look at how long it takes to adjudicate a case and when the miners are brought to court, they say ‘the wheels of justice turn slowly’ so by the time it gets to the other end, they get away with it…That arm of government has failed.”
Source:opemsuo.com