The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Eastern Region has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to be serious in his battle against illegal small-scale mining, also known as ‘galamsey.’
The current fight against illegal mining, according to the NDC, is more symbolic than functional, and is destined to fail.
“The President, his officials, family members, and NPP party galamsey aficionados are only using Ghanaians’ sincere outrage and joint determination to cope with the menace to defend their galamsey kingpins, thus utilizing a handful of them who have fallen out with them as scapegoats. This has to end right now.”
In a declaration, the NDC in the Eastern Region criticized the government’s response to the renewed fight against the menace.
“Inasmuch as we condemn galamsey, we also reject the manner in which President Akufo-latest Addo’s anti-galamsey taskforce is combating the menace.”
“We agree that such a national effort should be carried out in an open, accountable, and sincere way, with a visible chain of custody of equipment and other evidence.”
“For example, the task force’s spontaneous sporadic burning of excavators discovered on mining sites is not a sustainable method and must be discontinued immediately. Such a strategy, akin to mob justice, is prone to corruption and serves as a weapon in the arsenal of wealthy government figures seeking personal vengeance.”
The party is worried that a “similar pattern that contributed to the defeat of the original Operation Vanguard” is developing.
It also criticized what it terms the country’s “scapegoating policy” in the battle against illegal mining.
“In the area, the mining operations of Kate Gyemfuah and other National and Regional Executives are widely publicized. Why has only Kate Gyamfua been a victim? Will such scapegoating aid in combating the threat?”
“What occurs when the machinery is burned?” Mining is a socio-material activity. The equipment would not travel on its own. Humans moved them and profit from their operations. So far, materials have been burned down, but we have yet to see Ms. Kate Gyamfuah arrested and prosecuted if she and her organization are defying presidential directives. When is this going to happen?”
It also said that ‘Operation Halt’ is being used to punish the President’s opponents.
“We have seen records from Xtra Gold indicating that their operations are legal, even as recently as this year. Was the anti-galamsey team’s behavior part of a plot to unjustly propitiate verdict debt through intentional illegality by state actors?”
“Has the ostensible battle against galamsey turned nepotistic to the point that alleged opponents of Akufo-Addo and his family members are being punished by state-sanctioned operations like Operation Halt?”
As a result, the Regional NDC Secretariat requested that the taskforce’s operations in the area be halted immediately to allow for inquiries.
“This would inform a proper tactical guide for the taskforce in order to insulate them from political manipulation,” according to the statement.
The Ghana Armed Forces have begun the second step of a security campaign to combat illegal small-scale mining that threatens water sources and forest reserves.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Information, the exercise, called ‘Operation Halt II,’ is intended to “remove all individuals and logistics engaged in mining on water bodies.”
“The next step of the operation focuses on the Pra River tributaries, which have also been greatly impacted by illegal miners’ activities,” the statement continued.
Armed patrols of the Pra River have also begun by the Ghana Armed Forces.
The activity is being carried out by 400 men of various ranks.
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SOURCE: ATLFMONLINE
