RENEWED ILLEGAL MINING FIGHT: AS GOVT IS IN SELF SETUP FOR ANOTHER FAILURE, SECTOR MINISTERS MUST SOLELY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR JUDGMENT DEBTS/ FINANCIAL LOSS CHARGES FOR THE ILLEGALITIES – BURNING OF EXCAVATORS
The Organization, Social Democracy and Development Dialogue Forum – Africa (SDDDF-Africa) is of the view that the attempt by the Akufo-Addo Govt to gag Asantehene Otumfour Osei Tutu II on the galamsey menace as well as acting unlawful by destroying excavators found in the neighborhood of illegal mining sites are cases of self setup for another huge failure in the fight against illegal mining.
It is for good reasons that ACT 703 which regulates Ghana’s Minerals and Mining sector was amended and section 99 of the ACT is made very explicit as to how to handle arrested persons or found equipment and or product at the illegal mining sites.
SDDDF Africa can authoritatively state that destruction or burning of excavators (mining equipment in general) is not an option in the law and so those authorizing the burning must hold themselves up for a likely judgment debt/financial loss to the state charges as this very government is already saddled with $15million judgment debt for destroying excavators and this had happened at a time that as a state we have a huge need for the equipment to fix many challenges.
SDDDF Africa is at a loss as to why government is unprepared to involve other stakeholders including Small Scale & Artisanal Miners Association in the fight against galamsey, particularly that the legitimate Small Scale Miners have pragmatic ideas as solution to the galamsey menace.
Signed
Koku Mawuli Nanegbe
(Executive Director )
0243388488