The President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Eric Abavare, has harshly criticised President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his perceived failure to effectively combat illegal mining, known locally as “galamsey.”
Prof. Abavare accused the president of not taking decisive action against the illegal activities that continue to harm Ghana’s environment and economy.
In his remarks, Prof. Abavare did not hold back in expressing his disappointment with the president’s approach to the galamsey issue. He questioned the sincerity of Akufo-Addo’s promises to address the illegal mining problem, which has long plagued the country.
“That man is a big liar. I am sad because I have to say this on air. Once upon a time, when issues of Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, the former Minister of Environment, came up and he was seizing people’s excavators, the president made us believe he was doing the wrong thing, but today I believe him.”
Professor Eric Abavare, President of the UTAG-KNUST
According to the UTAG president, Akufo-Addo has all the power and resources necessary to tackle the galamsey issue but has failed to act decisively. He argued that the president’s inaction demonstrates a lack of political will to put an end to illegal mining in the country.
Galamsey, the illegal small-scale mining activity that has severely impacted Ghana’s environment, has been a significant concern for years. Despite several government interventions, the practice persists, causing widespread environmental degradation, including deforestation, contamination of water bodies, and destruction of farmlands.
The impact of galamsey on water resources has been a growing concern, with rivers and streams increasingly polluted by chemicals such as mercury and cyanide, making them unfit for human consumption and agricultural use.
Criticism of John Mahama’s Promises
In addition to his criticisms of President Akufo-Addo, Prof. Abavare also took aim at John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). Mahama has promised, if elected, to allow some forms of galamsey and release individuals who were previously arrested for engaging in illegal mining.
“He [Mahama] doesn’t even qualify to be the president of Ghana. This issue of galamsey, we know the solution. We know those involved. We know what we can do to solve it. The issue is that we don’t want to do it.”
Professor Eric Abavare, President of the UTAG-KNUST
He insisted that the solution to the galamsey problem is within reach, but there appears to be a lack of commitment from political leaders to implement it.
Prof. Abavare proposed that a simple, yet firm directive from the president could make a significant difference in the fight against galamsey.
“If the president really wants to solve it, he will say that from now, he does not want to see any earth-moving machine on our roads anywhere. That statement alone will suffice,” Prof. Abavare remarked.
The UTAG president’s criticism reflects the growing frustration among many Ghanaians over the government’s handling of the galamsey crisis. Environmental groups, civil society organisations, and concerned citizens have repeatedly called for more substantial action, warning that the situation is getting worse.
The destruction caused by galamsey has led to the loss of livelihoods for many farmers and rural communities who depend on the land and water resources for their survival.
Recently, Labour Unions in Ghana have threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the galamsey menace is not curbed by the end of September.
These unions argued that the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining is having a direct impact on workers’ lives, particularly those in affected regions. They demand immediate government intervention to save the country’s natural resources from further destruction.
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