The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, and Lead Convener of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey has called for decisive action from the state to curb illegal mining (galamsey) activities in Ghana, stressing the need for a non-partisan approach to the fight.
He highlighted the urgency of the situation, urging the government and all political actors to prioritize the survival of Ghana’s environment and its people over partisan interests.
Speaking on the alarming pollution of water bodies, Dr Ashigbey made it clear that the nationality or political affiliation of those engaging in illegal mining is irrelevant, asserting that what matters is the enforcement of the law without fear or favour.
“The point to make is the fact that whether the person, who is mining in the water bodies is Ghanaian or a foreigner. It is the job of the state to make sure these people are arrested and are dealt with.
“So whoever it is that has brought them, if they have evidence that the NDC has brought them there, whoever has brought them, these people are an illegality, and they need to be dealt with”.
Lead Convener of the Media Coalition against Galamsey and CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Ing. Dr Kenneth Ashigbey
He emphasized that any individual or group involved in such illicit activities, regardless of political connections or status, should face the full rigours of the law.
Dr Ashigbey went on to refute claims that the recent spike in water turbidity is a new phenomenon, asserting that illegal mining activities, including the use of charm fans on rivers, have been ongoing for years.
He pointed out that the situation has worsened over time, with the turbidity levels rising significantly since August. “If they know who is involved, they should deal with them,” he insisted.
The environmental crisis has been exacerbated by mining activities in forest reserves, a practice Dr. Ashigbey strongly condemned. He clarified that no small-scale miner in Ghana holds a valid license to operate in forest reserves.
“Akonta Mining for example has been mining in the Tano Forest Reserve illegally, Heritage Imperial was in one of the other forest reserves with a license that was supposed to be exploratory but was carrying out mining operations.
“And there are several of them. A lot of Chinese also like that. So the situation is that this has to be dealt with. It does not matter whose ass is God”.
Lead Convener of the Media Coalition against Galamsey and CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Ing. Dr Kenneth Ashigbey
Politicization of the Galamsey Fight
When asked about the impact of political commentary on the fight against galamsey, Dr. Ashigbey expressed concern that politicizing the issue would lead to failure.
“We should ignore the politicians. We need to let them know that Ghana is bigger than them,” he said. According to him, the environmental destruction caused by galamsey does not discriminate along political lines; it affects all Ghanaians equally, regardless of political affiliation.
He lamented that politicians seem more concerned about upcoming elections than addressing the environmental crisis.
“Our pressure is going to be on His Excellency the President to do what is needful at this particular time because we don’t have the patience to wait till the elections are over,” he added.
Dr. Ashigbey acknowledged that both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have, at various times, contributed to the politicization of the fight against illegal mining.
However, he stressed that this issue transcends party politics, urging all sides to focus on finding solutions. “It is not about the next vote. It is not about the next election. It is about our very survival,” he warned.
A Call to Revoke Licenses and Strengthen Law Enforcement
To strengthen the fight against illegal mining, Dr Ashigbey called for the revocation of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, which he believes has contributed to the proliferation of mining in forest reserves and the encroachment on water body buffers.
He called for the licenses of all companies operating in such areas to be revoked, insisting that immediate action is necessary to prevent further environmental damage.
“We need to make sure that those who are in the illegal places are arrested and are brought to book,” he urged.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Ashigbey emphasized that the fight against galamsey requires collective national effort, devoid of political interference.
He called on both political parties to commit fully to the cause, warning that failure to act swiftly could result in irreversible damage to Ghana’s environment and the health of its citizens.
The stakes, he concluded, are far too high to let political considerations derail the fight against galamsey.
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