The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, John Boadu, has intimated that if mining and environmental institutions act right, it will help solve the issue of illegal mining.
Speaking on the fight against galamsey, he stated that burning the excavators won’t solve the problem unless the mining and environmental institutions act appropriately in accordance to the laws.
“The issue is not about whether there are big men behind it or not. It’s also not about whether they are NPP members or not nor NDC or CPP members. The issue is about the fact that there will be compliance with the mining regulations.”
John Boadu
Some military officers have been deployed to clear the various waterbodies affected by mining activities. As part of their operations, they are to clear of the water bodies equipment by the miners which have been left on the concessions.
As part of the operations also, they have been directed to burn any excavator found on these sites. Commenting on this, John Boadu described it as a temporary way of resolving the menace.
Put in place regulations
He called for the Lands Ministry to put in place regulations which will ensure that responsible mining activities are taking place in the country. He also asked the various authorities in charge to execute their duties very well.
“As quickly as possible, the Lands Minister should put together a programme to regulate this. If the EPA doesn’t function effectively, no matter the regulations, it won’t be successful. If the Minerals Commission doesn’t function well, there will be no success no matter the initiatives. Also, if the Geological Service department and Forestry Commission don’t function well, there will no success.
“If you’re not bold and courageous as a government,;you cannot take that step, but the step should be a temporary measure. It cannot be a permanent feature in solving or clamping down on galamsey.”
John Boadu
Excavator burning doesn’t make sense
Meanwhile, Professor Ransford Gyampo, an associate professor at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, stated that the burning of excavators does not make sense.
“If you’re going to burn excavators and you’re going to use money to procure same for land reclamation, it doesn’t make sense. It makes you overly emotional.”
Prof Gyampo
His reaction comes on the back of the President challenging persons who do not support the burning of the seized excavators to go to court. The statement which has become a topic of concern has got some stakeholders supporting it whiles the statement has also attracted some backlash from the general public and those involved in mining activities.
According to Professor Gyampo, the President must give the National Security Minister a clear instruction to rather find a safe place to keep the seized excavators for future land reclamation use.
“The President should rethink the whole approach. It is good we fight galamsey but it’s bad we destroy this same equipment we will need to reclaim the land.
“National security can find a yard and put them there. Let the seizure of ‘galamsey’ excavators be done by the state. Anybody who fails should be brought to book.”
Prof Gyampo
