Miracles Aboagye, an aide to former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has told the Mahama government it is not enough to say they are renewing the fight against galamsey.
According to Miracles Aboagye, Ghanaians want to see results and not rhetoric in the fight against galamsey.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 16, Miracles Aboagye stated, “I want them to declare the state of emergency now, as you believed in it in opposition”.
“It is absurd for them to be now giving excuses not to do that”, he added.
“What have you been doing all this time if you’re now going to renew the galamsey fight?” he asked.
Miracles Aboagye added, “It is not enough to say you are renewing the fight. The people want to see results, not rhetoric”.
“This is about the future of our children and the survival of our communities. We need leadership that will act firmly and consistently, not one that revisits the same promises every few years,” he emphasised.
Miracles Aboagye further cautioned the John Mahama-led government that posterity will judge them if they fail to tackle galamsey.
He added, “For the first time, they have in us, the NPP, an opposition party that has made a firm commitment not to do politics out of galamsey. They should take advantage of that and let us fix this existential threat once and for all. If they fail at it, posterity will judge them”.
Miracles Aboagye’s comments come on the heels of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed that President John Dramani Mahama will lead a very ruthless and relentless fight against galamsey.
According to Ablakwa, Ghana is going to see John Mahama lead the charge to stop the existential threat of illegal mining confronting Ghanaians.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, August 14, Mr Ablakwa stated, “I can confirm to you that you are going to see a fight that has never been witnessed before in this country. President Mahama is going to lead a very ruthless and relentless fight against galamsey.
He didn’t mince his words. We had a brief cabinet meeting, and the President was very clear that he would lead a war we have never seen before to stop this existential threat confronting us,” he stated.
Also, Kwesi Pratt Jr, a veteran journalist and Managing Editor of The Insight newspaper, has said the John Mahama-led government’s failure to end illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, will be a huge dishonour to the August 6 helicopter crash victims.
According to Kwesi Pratt, galamsey fight commitment must be renewed if Ghana truly believe those who died are worth the honour that the whole country showered on them.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Friday, August 15, Kwesi Pratt disclosed, “If we fail to fight against galamsey, it will be a huge dishonour in the memory of Omane Boamah and all those who died in the helicopter crash”.
“He died in the line of duty, no doubt. But I think that those of us who want to honour his memory should carry on the fight that took his life. That is the fight against galamsey. Galamsey has had a devastating effect on the nation”.
He added, “If we truly respect Omane Boamah, if we truly believe he was worth the honour that all of us have showered on him. We should renew our commitment to fighting against galamsey. If we fail to fight against galamsey, it will be a huge dishonour in the memory of Omane Boamah and all those who died in the helicopter crash.”
Kwesi Pratt further touched on the dwindling Ghana cocoa production, which he notes has gone down by some 60 per cent.
“Cocoa production has gone down by 60% and we know that galamsey is responsible for the reduction in our figures. Medical experts are reporting that many children are being born deformed, some born without eyes, arms. Water bodies destroyed, food poisoning,” the veteran journalist added.