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Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, the convenor of the Anti-Galamsey Coalition, has said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Organiser, Joseph Yamin, and the party’s National Vice Chairman, Yakubu Abanga, over their alleged connection in illegal mining.
Dr Ashigbey noted that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has failed to apprehend the two NDC executives despite the directives from the Attorney-General and Minister.
Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Monday, August 18, Dr Ashigbey stated, “The NDC’s National Organiser, National Vice Chairman, have been pointed out by the AG to investigate them. Unfortunately, EOCO, we have not heard anything from you. Just as they did to Akonta Mining [Chairman Wontumi], they should arrest these two gentlemen and conduct the investigations”.
“We don’t see what is happening to Akonta Mining; he and his other director should be dragged to court,” he stated.
He further called on the government to declare a state of emergency in communities in heavily impacted areas.
He added, “We need to deal with this as a national security crisis, and it ought to be dealt with. Another thing we have been talking about is the state of emergency; we’re not saying state of emergency in the whole of the country, not even the whole of the district. This particular community, this thing is happening, declare a state of emergency,” he stressed.
“Offin River in Dunkwa, for example, you can declare a state of emergency and say nobody should go into that water, so that you give special powers to the police, Forestry Commission to be able to deal with these people [galamseyers].”
Also, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II, the President of the National House of Chiefs, has said the media must name and shame chiefs and politicians involved in galamsey.
According to Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi, political interference has severely undermined national efforts to halt illegal mining.
He noted that when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were in power, Jubilee House was being blamed for galamsey today, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), yet still Jubilee House is being blamed.
Addressing the issue, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi stated, “This forest was created in 1929, and even the local people were not allowed there to collect snails there, but now we are giving it out for people to go and do illegal and irresponsible mining.
During the NPP time, we were all blaming Jubilee House. During the NDC time, we are still blaming Jubliee House; they are involved, let’s speak up because it affects us. Now the price of bottled water is rising because in the village, they don’t get stream water to drink again”, he added.
Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi boldly stressed, “If we are serious about ending galamsey, we must name and shame every individual involved, whether a chief or a politician. There should be no sacred cows”.
In addition, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Effutu, has said President John Dramani Mahama’s promotion of the three Ghana Air Force personnel will be meaningless if the government fails to fight galamsey.
Speaking at the Grand Durbar Homecoming and Handing-Over Ceremony of the Asante Students Union at the University of Ghana on August 17 stated, “Posthumous honours, while deserving, does not finish what they started. These eight died in an effort to fight galamsey. Their sacrifices demand that we finally win this matter against illegal mining.
“The Mahama administration must act with fierce urgency, not just for the environment but to honour the eight people who paid the ultimate price. With every day of delay, weak response, every compromise with illegal miners betrays their sacrifice,” he added.