Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications and MP for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, has revealed that the John Mahama-led government will intensify their fight against galamsey.
According to Kwakye Ofosu, the military will be stationed permanently in 44 galamsey areas.
The minister highlighted that, unlike in the past administration, where security forces would conduct short-term operations before withdrawing, the military will be stationed permanently in the galamsey areas.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face programme on Tuesday, September 16, Kwakye Ofosu stated, “All the 44 areas that are threatened by galamsey, there is going to be a permanent military presence”.
“In the past, they would go and flush out the characters engaged in galamsey and then leave, but now they will have a permanent military presence”.
He added, “All the rivers we have will have a permanent military presence”.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu had earlier dared anyone who says illegal mining (galamsey) has become worse under President John Mahama to provide evidence to back their claims.
The Minister noted that the claims must be backed with empirical evidence and not just guesswork.
According to Kwakye Ofosu, the Mahama-led government is dedicated to combating galamsey.
Speaking during an interview on Joy FM on Monday, September 15, Kwakye Ofosu stated, “Those who say galamsey has worsened under President Mahama must prove it with empirical evidence. We cannot allow perceptions or political point-scoring to overshadow facts”.
The Presidential Spokesperson revealed that Mahama is keeping the option of a state of emergency open and will only go that route if the situation becomes necessary.
He added, “Let me indicate that on the matter of state of emergency, the president said that there are conventional approaches that are currently being deployed that he believes would help us achieve the objective of wiping out this canker once and for all. And that when it becomes necessary, a state of emergency may be deployed”.
“It actually means that you set aside laws as they are and adopt extraordinary, sometimes very harsh, very drastic measures in order to beat back a particular problem.
“It comes with its own difficulties, and therefore, the declaration of the same must be based on tangible reasoning. You must have a sufficient basis to do that so that you are very clear that the consequences that will result will be worth the effort”, he noted.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu added, “He believes earnestly that currently, some gains are being made that could be sustained. And as and when we get to a stage when it is absolutely necessary to deploy those measures that will create some absolute discomfort for ordinary citizens, and may involve measures that may not necessarily be in tandem with the way that our laws should function, he will take the decision”.
“The government appreciates the genuine concern surrounding the issue of galamsey because of the threats that it poses. It has naturally become an emotive subject. People are deeply concerned about it, and they want urgent action. The government understands that fully, and such urgent action is underway,” he said.
Kwakye Ofosu added that John Mahama, since becoming president, has done everything necessary to ensure that we combat galamsey.
He further added that Mahama never gave any timelines for ending illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The minister explained, “To be fair, if you want to assess a president, you will have to take him by his own words and actions, the commitments that he made. President Mahama did not give any timelines to ending galamsey”.
“He said at the media encounter that he was not under any illusion that by the wink of the magic wand, galamsey will end because it is an insidious problem,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu added.
He added, “Government fully appreciates the genuine concerns people have expressed on galamsey, and these are not matters we take lightly”.
“We cannot pretend it is an easy fight, but what we can assure Ghanaians is that the government has not lost sight of its duty to protect lives, livelihoods and the environment,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Dr Ken Ashigbey, the Convener of the Coalition Against Galamsey, has confidently told President John Dramani Mahama to sack all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in areas where illegal mining (galamsey) is prevalent.
According to Dr Ken Ashigbey, the galamsey fight requires urgent action as it is not progressing the way it should be.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Dr Ashigbey stated, “We believe it is not only us talking about it, but churches are also speaking about it. We all have to come on board to work on it.
But if galamsey is still ongoing in areas like Tarkwa, Obuasi, Prestea, then the DCEs and MCEs there must be sacked,” he insisted.
He added, “After sacking them, the government can investigate further to find out if they are part of the activities. If they are, then deal with them, because clearly, they are not helping matters”.