Yaw Asani Tano, a political activist, has stated that the first action to be taken towards the fight against galamsey is to ban excavators from being imported into the country.
According to him, giving license to these excavators implies that the activities of these miners are being legitimized.
“Licensing these excavators means that you have seconded and you have legitimized their operations. First port of call: ban the importation of excavators because the intent and purpose for any excavators or bulldozers being brought into the country must be known by the authorities through the port.”
Yaw Asani Tano
Speaking on ‘Adekye Nsroma’, he stated that any excavator which is not being imported into the country for the purpose of construction must be banned or confiscated at the port and according to him, the new policy on the registration of excavators was not going to solve the problem of galamsey.
Mr. Tano explained that excavators in themselves are not bad, rather their use in the operations of galmsey is what is the problem, and only legitimate companies that are known for the use of excavators in their construction activities must be allowed to use them.
These are the root causes that need to be taken care of before other rules are made and just the licensing process gives miners the go ahead to use these excavators to destroy lands and water bodies, he stated.
“Just licensing alone means that you are even aware that people are using unlicensed excavators to destroy our water bodies or river bodies.”
Yaw Asani Tano
He said that the President was being complicit on this matter, and he should have called out Chairman Wontumi, the CEO of Akonta Mining Limited, when he went to Kumasi to address the issue of galamsey for mining in “unapproved reserves”
The President does not benefit from galamsey
On the same discussion, former MP of Tema East Municipality, Hon. Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, declared that the President is not complicit about the issue of galamsey and he does not benefit from its proceeds as well.
He said that the President has a strong resolve to fight this issue, and everyone should support him in this fight because it is not an issue for just one person to handle. Hon. Titus-Glover stated that he made an early suggestion that all mining activities should be seized and all lands should be reclaimed by the ministry.
The former MP indicated that the directive from the Ministry of Lands and Minerals Commission stated that all excavators should be registered including excavators that were being sold in the country.
“So, if it is your business is to sell excavators you must still register it, and if someone comes to buy it for a different purpose, you must let him know. He said, register every excavator whether you are selling or you’re going to use it in doing any activity.”
Hon. Titus-Glover
According to him, the registration of these excavators is going to help the ministry track the purpose for the purchase of these excavators and this will ensure that all excavators going to the mining areas will be monitored.
The police should be involved in this activity and it should not be limited to only the assemblies, he said, adding that galamsey is the “worst form of terrorism” and it is not an activity that anyone should condone. He therefore, urged the public to support the minister to tackle this issue.
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