The Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has failed to address the illegal mining menace because persons who are part of the administration are actively involved in the practice, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has stated.
The founding member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) says the calls for a declaration of a state of emergency and ban on all forms of small-scale mining have not been heeded to because those with the power to do so are deeply involved in the act.
Citing the Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng report on illegal mining known locally as ‘galamsey’, he said the document provided names of persons running affairs of the state who are involved, charging the President to publish the names for Ghanaians to see.
Speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3 Tuesday, October 15, 2024, the former President of the Ghana Football Association said the earth moving equipment being used to do galamsey cannot be purchased by the young men on the sites but rather the politicians.
When asked why he thinks Organised Labour’s call for the ban and declaration of a state of emergency have not been heeded to, he said “it is because they are involved in the mining. The report of Prof. Frimpong-Boateng states that clearly. He even mentioned the names of those that are involved.”
He charged President Akufo-Addo to publish the Frimpong-Boateng report if he wants Ghanaians to believe him.
“If the President wants us to believe him, he should have the report published as soon as possible so that we will all see it. They’re involved and when you’re involved in a situation and somebody is trying to correct you, definitely, you’ll kick against it and that is what we are seeing.
“Those heavy caterpillars are not for those small boys. Those caterpillars have been bought by people with money in their pockets and these are those running affairs of the state. That’s why there is the need to call for a state of emergency on surface mining,” he stated.
Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe was commenting on the back of Akufo-Addo’s call on the flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, to clarify his approach to dealing with illegal mining (galamsey) if elected.
Despite the turbidity levels of water bodies and destruction of forest reserves being the worst under his leadership, President Akufo-Addo has also said that his administration has done the most in curbing galamsey more than any other government.
“I’m not surprised because if you want to be very critical of Akufo-Addo, Akufo-Addo hears no wrong, what he knows is to shift blame instead of doing the needful. If you listen to it carefully, as usual, he is trying to absolve himself instead of going straight to how to fix the problem,” he stated.
Source:onuaonline.com