Founder of the Pan African Heritage Museum, Kojo Yankah has wondered what President Akufo Addo and his government can do between now and the elections on December 7 to tackle the illicit small-scale mining practices (Galamsey).
Mr Yankah believes that the President and his government have let the nation down, with respect to protecting the nation’s environment and natural resources.
He said this after asking questions relating to galamsey in Ghana and the government’s approach to nipping the situation in the bud.
He asked what prevented the inter-ministerial committee that was set up to tackle galamsey and the security agencies from co-opting the National House of Chiefs and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the exercise.
What was stopping the government from holding bipartisan town hall meetings to seek support for the exercise to address the issue, he further asked.
To him, dancing around the subject and trying to justify or parry the blame is itself very hypocritical.
Mr Yankah’s comments come in the wake of the blame game between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patritoc Party over the galamesy menace.
There was a heated argument on the floor of parliament on the issue of galamsey on September 3, 2024.
The Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, during the extraordinary meeting of Parliament, blamed each other on the worsening state of the country’s water bodies.
The Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh Dompreh, for instance, accused the erstwhile National Democratic Government of causing more havoc to the environment than the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“If we are to look and investigate both sides of the House (NPP and NDC), I can tell you that the NDC polluted the water more than us. So, let’s get matters straight,” he said.
The Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson indicated that under his government even though security personnel have been deployed to help fight galamsey, the practice is still taking place.
Other MPs raised concerns about the scarcity of water in most parts of the country. The MP for Bodi, Samson Ahi said there is water shortage in places such as Kumasi, Western Region and Accra.
Mr Yankah believes that the President and his government have let the nation down, with respect to protecting the nation’s environment and natural resources.
He said this after asking questions relating to galamsey in Ghana and the government’s approach to nipping the situation in the bud.
He asked what prevented the inter-ministerial committee that was set up to tackle galamsey and the security agencies from co-opting the National House of Chiefs and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the exercise.
What was stopping the government from holding bipartisan town hall meetings to seek support for the exercise to address the issue, he further asked.
To him, dancing around the subject and trying to justify or parry the blame is itself very hypocritical.
Mr Yankah’s comments come in the wake of the blame game between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patritoc Party over the galamesy menace.
There was a heated argument on the floor of parliament on the issue of galamsey on September 3, 2024.
The Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, during the extraordinary meeting of Parliament, blamed each other on the worsening state of the country’s water bodies.
The Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh Dompreh, for instance, accused the erstwhile National Democratic Government of causing more havoc to the environment than the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“If we are to look and investigate both sides of the House (NPP and NDC), I can tell you that the NDC polluted the water more than us. So, let’s get matters straight,” he said.
The Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson indicated that under his government even though security personnel have been deployed to help fight galamsey, the practice is still taking place.
Other MPs raised concerns about the scarcity of water in most parts of the country. The MP for Bodi, Samson Ahi said there is water shortage in places such as Kumasi, Western Region and Accra.
If care is not taken, we may not get water to bath before coming to Parliament tomorrow,’’ he warned.
In a post on his Facebook page, Mr Yankah, also Founder of the African University College of Communications (AUCC) said ” l feel amused when l see intellectuals trying to play a balancing game on matters which demand direct criticism. We are talking Leadership here. Galamsey reared its head before President Mahama lost the 2016 Elections. Come President Akufo Addo who gave so much hope by putting his Presidency on the line. Some of us loved it because a grave situation like Galamsey could not, and cannot, be controlled by an Association of Professional Bodies (or any CSO). The President rightly appointed an Inter-Ministerial Committee backed by ALL the Security Agencies – the most powerful instrument to use in handling such a critical issue.
“One immediate top headline news that came out of the exercise was the arrest of a Chinese woman, Aisha. Senior Minister Osafo Maafo is on record to have said that she was released for ‘some diplomatic reasons’ (my own words). This gave courage to some big shots to join the game. We are still to know the full reason for Major Mahama’s brutal murder. Who has been put before court to restrain the other offenders. Who is behind those criminals causing such levels of devastation? We are still waiting for Government action on the comprehensive report produced by the eminent reputable scientist/doctor Professor Frimpong Boateng.
“What prevented the Inter-ministerial committee and the security agencies from co-opting the National House of Chiefs and NGOs in the exercise ? What was stopping the government from holding bipartisan town hall meetings to seek support for the exercise. At least, now we know that Ghana Water Company has officially announced that Ghana faces Water Crisis. The Forestry Commission has confirmed that our Forest has been badly depleted. We know as a fact that a deceased party boss willed part of Ghana’s forestry reserves to his family members. The Government (any government) has all the necessary power and tools at its disposal to arrest and deal with any person or persons, whatever their affiliations, who participated in this heinous crime of endangering the economy and future of Ghana. Dancing around the subject and trying to justify or parry the blame is itself very hypocritical.
“I wonder what President Akufo Addo and his government can do between now and the Elections, but l believe that the President and his government have let the nation down, with respect to protecting the nation’s environment and natural resources, and an address on the state of the nation’s resources is due. The Truth must be told. That we fail to see this as one of the reasons for the country’s shabby economy is nothing short of intellectual dishonesty. All Governments should be held accountable for their promises, actions and inactions ! We need to cure this cancer in order to end these equalization comments !”
SOURCE: 3News.com
