Galamsey: Akufo-Addo and His Government Have Let the Nation down – Kojo Yankah
Founder of the Pan African Heritage Museum, Kojo Yankah, has expressed disappointment with President Akufo-Addo and his government’s handling of illegal small-scale mining (galamsey).
Mr. Yankah questioned what the government could realistically do between now and the December 7 elections to address the galamsey menace, which has devastated Ghana’s environment and natural resources.
In a Facebook post, Mr. Yankah emphasized that the government has failed to protect the nation’s environment, despite setting up an Inter-Ministerial Committee and involving security agencies in the fight against galamsey.
He criticized the administration for not engaging the National House of Chiefs and NGOs, and for avoiding bipartisan town hall meetings that could have fostered public support for the campaign.
His comments come amidst a blame game between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the worsening state of the country’s water bodies.
On September 3, 2024, a heated debate took place in Parliament, with Majority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh accusing the NDC of causing more environmental harm during its tenure. Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson countered that the government’s efforts to fight galamsey have been ineffective, despite the deployment of security personnel.
Raising concerns about water shortages across the country, Bodi MP Samson Ahi warned that if immediate action is not taken, water scarcity will worsen.
He noted that regions such as Kumasi, the Western Region, and Accra are already facing serious water supply challenges.
Reflecting on the issue, Mr. Yankah recalled President Akufo-Addo’s bold promise to put his presidency on the line to stop galamsey.
However, he expressed frustration that this commitment has not been fulfilled, citing the controversial release of Chinese national Aisha Huang and the murder of Major Mahama, as unresolved incidents that reflect the government’s weak handling of the issue.
“At least now we know that the Ghana Water Company has officially declared a water crisis, and the Forestry Commission has confirmed that our forests have been badly depleted,” Mr. Yankah wrote.
He criticized the government’s failure to act on the comprehensive report produced by Professor Frimpong Boateng and questioned the decision to ignore bipartisan collaboration in tackling galamsey.
Mr. Yankah concluded by calling for an address on the state of the nation’s natural resources, emphasizing that all governments should be held accountable for their promises, actions, and inactions. He stressed that galamsey is one of the core reasons behind Ghana’s struggling economy, and called for urgent action to resolve the crisis.
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Source: Felix Nyaaba // ExpressNewsGhana.com
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