The leader and founder of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM) in a passionate address, Rev. Christian Kwabena Andrews, laid out his vision for Ghana’s future, criticizing the role of politicians in the mining sector, the handling of national resources, and offering bold suggestions for empowering the youth and transforming the economy.
Kwabena Andrews expressed deep frustration with how the mining sector has been managed in Ghana, particularly by politicians.
He argued that politicians have worsened the situation by introducing advanced and large-scale mining equipment, such as excavators, into small-scale mining.
“These miners are the youth that know next to nothing about the mining. All they were doing is shallow mining, whereby they were using very small water sources to draw the sand and [extract] little amounts of gold.”
Rev. Christian Kwabena Andrews leader and founder of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM)
Kwabena Andrews further blamed politicians for the destructive impact on Ghana’s mining lands, accusing them of bringing in heavy machinery that exacerbated environmental degradation. He revealed that politicians are destroying this country…. All these excavators that are over there, the youth don’t have money to buy them. You politicians did it.”
He emphasized that while innocent youths are often blamed and chased by military personnel, the real culprits are the politicians who profit from large-scale mining. He remarked; “Sending military men there, they are going to chase innocent people. The politicians will call their people and shield [and] never even go to their own sites.“
Empowering the Youth and Reclaiming the Land
Kwabena Andrews also proposed a different approach to handling the mining crisis. Instead of deploying military forces to tackle illegal mining (galamsey), he suggested a plan that focuses on empowering the youth and rehabilitating the land.
He called on the government to provide temporary support for the miners
“Find something for them. Give them some time. We just cool them down, [We want to reclaim all the land], and [the] government is going to do the mining itself .”
Rev. Christian Kwabena Andrews leader and founder of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM)
His vision centers on involving the government directly in mining, with the state controlling and managing the resources. He noted; “Every mining license is going to be seized.”
According to Andrews, this approach would ensure that the youth, who may not have technical expertise in mining, could be employed and involved in national development through responsible resource extraction.
He highlighted the need for collaboration with experts to extract resources effectively. He emphasized; “We need to sit down with them and know the best way to solve the problem.”
A New Economic Strategy: Freeport and Reducing Taxes
In addition to addressing mining, Kwabena Andrews outlined a broader economic strategy aimed at reviving Ghana’s economy. One of his major proposals was the creation of a Freeport.
“I’m going to open a Freeport. I will give seed capital to the youth, they are going to enjoy the Freeport things [and then] the Burkina people, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, they will come and buy Freeport things.”
Rev. Christian Kwabena Andrews leader and founder of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM)
This initiative, according to Andrews, would stimulate economic growth and create jobs for the youth. Kwabena Andrews proposed a shift away from the current tax structure. He lamented; “We continue to tax people. We are taxing our mindset, but not taxing the people.”
He vowed to cancel unnecessary taxes, particularly those affecting the marketplace, to ease the financial burden on Ghanaians. He reiterated; “Market tolls and the others, I’m going to cancel all. It’s not important.”
Reforms in the Resource Sector
Andrews also expressed strong opinions on how Ghana’s natural resources, particularly petroleum, are managed.
He criticized the government for handing over valuable resources to foreign companies while the country’s leaders live in luxury.
“We have petrol here. We are giving it to some people, and then our leaders are sitting in their comfortable zones, in their V8s. They are not serious people.”
Rev. Christian Kwabena Andrews leader and founder of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM)
One of his priorities, should he be elected president, is to renegotiate contracts with foreign companies involved in resource extraction.
He proposed shortening the length of contracts and increasing the share of resources allocated to Ghanaians.
“If the government signs an agreement with them for about 50 years, we are going to cut it off to 20 years. If the percentage given to Ghanaians [ is] 10%, we will bring it to 50-50.”
Rev. Christian Kwabena Andrews leader and founder of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM)
He also issued a strong warning to foreign companies unwilling to renegotiate these terms, threatening to take drastic action.
“If they don’t take it, I’ll send in Nima boys and the Northerners to go and beat them up. They should move from the country.”
Rev. Christian Kwabena Andrews leader and founder of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM)
The Future of Gold and Ghana’s Sovereignty
Finally, Kwabena Andrews touched on the long-term implications of global economic changes and how they might affect Ghana.
He predicted that shortly, the value of gold would rise dramatically, surpassing the worth of traditional currencies.
“A few years to come, this mobile phone will be sold in ounces of gold. They are not going to sell with dollars or cedis.”
Rev. Christian Kwabena Andrews leader and founder of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM)
Kwabena Andrews emphasized the importance of preserving Ghana’s gold reserves and ensuring that the country’s wealth is not depleted by foreign interests. He lamented; “This is our land. We can’t continue to let others take our gold while we are left with nothing.“
Kwabena Andrews’ vision for Ghana revolves around reclaiming the country’s resources, empowering the youth, and reducing dependence on foreign interests.
His proposals reflect a desire for greater self-reliance, economic growth through innovative strategies like Freeport, and a more equitable distribution of Ghana’s wealth.
His bold stance on mining and resource management signals a significant departure from traditional governance approaches in the country.
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