The University of Ghana (UG) lecturers campaigning for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have slammed President Akufo-Addo’s administration over the lack of concrete action to halt illegal mining (galamsey) activities in the country.
The lecturers hit the streets of Atomic on Tuesday, October 8, to woo Ghanaians to vote for NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama to become president in the 2024 general election.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines, Prof. Michael Kpessa-Whyte, a leading member of the University of Ghana lecturers campaigning for the NDC said the lecturers are motivated by the urgent calls to mount pressure on President Akufo-Addo’s government to curb galamsey.
“It should be on record that our campaign on the streets for the NDC is also driven by our concerns about this government’s inaction as far as galamsey is concerned. What future are we living for our children and their children? This is not how Kwame Nkrumah left this country. He left this country in a better state and we have a responsibility as Ghanaians to leave it much better for the generations yet unborn,” Prof. Michael Kpessa-Whyte said.
The Professor in his engagement with the media argued that it is no longer enough to be confined to lecture halls teaching students.
He said it is important to engage the general public and let them understand that times are indeed tough for everyone under the government of President Akufo-Addo.
He said Ghanaians must come together and vote the ruling NPP government out of power on December 7.
“We buy from the same shops and we are feeling the pinch as them and that they should join us to get this government out and make sure that we bring a government that at least we have seen from experience that they have been much better in delivering development to Ghanaians, bringing infrastructure and ensuring we have a better economic growth as far as the country is concerned,” Prof. Michael Kpessa-Whyte said.
On her part, Prof. Nana Ama Brown Klutse, a member of the University of Ghana lecturers campaigning for the NDC noted that what they want is for President Akufo-Addo to live up to his word and take concrete action against galamsey.
She said a temporal ban on illegal mining is necessary to protect the country’s forest reserves, lands, and river bodies.
“Put a temporal ban on galamsey, let’s sit back on the table and look at ways that we can mine to keep our water bodies clean so that we get back our water. We are only asking the president to take action. He is in control of the country as we speak and he can take action especially when he has put his presidency on the line. He has less than two months to go and if he has put his presidency on the line, we want to see the action he will take on this galamsey issue,” Prof. Nana Ama Brown Klutse.
After hitting the streets on Tuesday, the University of Ghana lecturers campaigning for the NDC have served notice that they will be embarking on similar exercises until December 7 to engage the public and convince them to vote for John Dramani Mahama to become President.
Source: Eric Nana Yaw Kwafo || modernghana