Madam Beatrice Annan, the Deputy spokesperson of the John Mahama campaign, says former President John Dramani Mahama never endorsed illegal mining, which is popularly known as ‘galamsey’.
She claims that the former President still holds the position that ‘galamsey’ is illegal and will never promote it in any circumstances.
John Dramani Mahama, addressing branch and constituency executives of Atewa West and East during his 3-day Eastern regional tour, averred that the Akufo-Addo-led administration has arrested and jailed young people, concluding that most of these young people are NDC members and not a part of the NPP.
Moreover, he also accused the government of seizing excavators that belong to the NDC members and handing them over to NPP members, to make use of in their illegal operation.
However, Madam Beatrice Annan threw some light on the statement in an interview, saying “Nowhere did former President Mahama endorse galamsey. He said that young people in the country, when they engage in galamsey, they are not punished as citizens but they are punished on the basis of political party lines.”
“And so, if you were an NDC person engaged in galamsey, you are guaranteed to be pitched against the law. That’s why President Mahama is saying that whether you are NPP or NDC, when you engage in illegal mining, you must face the full rigors of the law. The position of the former President, is that galamsey will remain illegal.”
Madam Beatrice Annan
As stated by her, Mahama’s comment was in reference to small-scale miners who could either be members of CPP, NPP or NDC, who were wrongly arrested by the government. She denied that the former President endorsed the activities of illegal miners, who are members of the NDC.
“Former President Mahama said that until the Akufo-Addo’s government came into power, small-scale mining had been something that every Ghanaian, irrespective of their political colors, was allowed to engage in. Which is not illegal because the law permits it. But they have politicized it and that if you were a small-scale miner, there was a 99% probability that you are an NPP…which is not good”.
Madam Beatrice Annan
The deputy spokesperson for John Mahama’s campaign, added that “Mr. Mahama said that those who engage in small-scale mining is immaterial of what one’s party colors are, as long as you qualify, you should be allowed to do the small-scale mining”.
“Former President Mahama said that all citizens whether CPP, NDC or NPP, their concessions were taken away and given to NPP. People who engage in galamsey, which is illegal mining, had their excavators seized because they engaged in illegal mining. These excavators were given to NPP members, to engage in the same illegal mining. That is the statement he [Mahama] made…Galamsey issues should be devoid of partisan politics.”
Madam Beatrice Annan
Western North NDC Directs Delegates To Vote For Mahama
The Western North Regional Communication Bureau of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), directed all delegates within the Region to vote for former President John Dramani Mahama in the upcoming Presidential primaries, slated for 13th May for victory in 2024.
A press statement signed by the Regional communication officer, Sam Jerome, stated “Without any iota of disrespect and disregard for the other aspirants who are competing former President Mahama, I say without any equivocation that, the former President remains our surest bet for the party at this crucial time.”
“All we seek is Political power and who will secure our power is the one we must all follow, and that person is John Dramani Mahama.”
Western North Regional Communication Bureau of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)
The statement described the former President as a nation builder, an infrastructure king and the most popular politician in the NDC and Ghana in general. It also claimed the charitable deeds of the former President, would help secure the party-political power in 2024.
The statement reiterated that the Western North Region, which was a stronghold of the party was highly committed under the leadership of the Regional Chairperson, Michael Aidoo, to secure victory for both former President Mahama and the party at large, in the 2024 general election.
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