Miracles Aboagye, an aide to former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has told President John Dramani Mahama posterity will judge him if he fails to end illegal mining (galamsey).
He called on the Mahama-led government to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
The NPP man affirmed that 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”.
Also, Dr Tony Aidoo, a former Ambassador to the Netherlands, has called on President John Dramani Mahama not to let the eight people who died in last Wednesday’s helicopter crash go in vain.
According to Dr Tony Aidoo, the best tribute to the eight fallen Ghanaian heroes is for John Mahama to end the galamsey menace once and for all.
Dr Aidoo noted that victims, including two cabinet ministers, lost their lives in the line of duty in an initiative to tackle galamsey.
Speaking on Newsfile on Saturday, August 9, Dr Tony Aidoo stated, “Why were they in the air? They were in the air because they were going to fight galamsey”.
“President Mahama must kill the galamsey menace before it ends his members [of cabinet].”
He added, “God gives, yes, but God does not take innocent lives. People die by their own destruction or by lifestyle. What is President Mahama waiting for? Yesterday, I heard Kwame Mpianim say we must ban galamsey for three months.
In fact, my first reaction after the Chief of Staff gave us the details and confirmed the death was to send the message directly to President Mahama, and I said these eight patriotic souls lost their lives in the fight against galamsey.
So for God’s sake, Mr President, don’t let them die in vain. Stop the galamsey now. That’s the best tribute we can say to these patriotic deaths.”
Dr Tony Aidoo further revealed his relationship with the late Dr Omane Boamah and Dr Sarpong, and Dr Murtala Mohammed.
He added, “To be frank, I had a personal connection with only three of the unfortunate victims of the helicopter crash — Dr Omane Boamah and Dr Sarpong and Dr Murtala Mohammed”.
“Anytime I remember the departed, it is usually with teary eyes, but I am not here to eulogise nor to pay another apologetic tribute. This will be a very tiny voice among the worldwide tributes following the avoidable national tragedy”.
Dr Tony Aidoo, added, “Even though faith says we must eulogise the dead, we must look behind and look for the cause — why did they die? People will say, ‘Oh, the Lord gave us and the Lord takes.’ I say that God did not take. It was we who gave by our mistake of an avoidable death.”
Meanwhile, 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, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, the Media Relations Officer at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has hinted at a possible repeal of LI 2462.
Speaking on NewsFile on Saturday, August 16, Paa Kwesi Schandorf said, “I could say authoritatively now here is that there’s a renewed conversation on L1 2462, and in the not too distant future, there would be an appropriate communication in that particular respect where the repeal is concerned.
That conversation has been had, indeed, there was a crunch Cabinet meeting that exhausted that possibility, and so the final outcome will be communicated very soon”.