Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister for Government Communication, has said President John Dramani Mahama never gave any timelines to ending illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu highlighted that President Mahama must be assessed by his own words and actions.
According to Kwakye Ofosu, Mahama acknowledged the complexity of galamsey and made it clear that it could not be eradicated immediately.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, September 15, Mr Kwakye Ofosu stated, “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.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu called on all Ghanaians to rally behind the measures being implemented by the government.
“We must all rally behind the measures being implemented. The survival of our water bodies and farmlands cannot be compromised”, he added.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu’s remarks come on the heels of President Mahama receiving a backlash from Ghanaians following his poor handling of the galamsey menace and his recent comment during his engagement with the media.
According to John Mahama, his administration is not in a rush to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining.
He noted growing public pressure to take drastic measures on galamsey but warned against resorting to a state of emergency prematurely.
Speaking at his media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, John Mahama explained, “I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency”.
“We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers to be able to act”, he added.
John Mahama highlighted that a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort.
“Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort. So for now, let’s exercise all the powers we have — and if it becomes necessary for a state of emergency, then we look at it,” he added.
John Mahama further announced that his government is intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining, which has long threatened Ghana’s environment and natural resources.
He announced that the task force’s operations have led to the apprehension of hundreds of excavators, water pumps, and other heavy equipment used in galamsey activities.
“We’re taking decisive action to protect our environment and natural resources from destruction. A dedicated national task force is in place, actively combating the menace of illegal mining.
“As a result of their operations, hundreds of excavators, water pumps and other heavy equipment have been seized. Disrupting the networks that have long exploited our rivers. Nine forest reserves have been reclaimed from the grips of illegal miners,” he said.
Meanwhile, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the Convenor of FixTheCountry, has announced an anti-galamsey vigil on Sunday, September 21.
In a social media post, Barker-Vormawor highlighted the need to protect Ghana’s environment.
According to Vormawor, the responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment as Ghanaians.
Vormawor announced that the vigil would be followed by a public march on Monday, 22 September, a national holiday, to draw more attention to the environmental crisis of urgent proportions.
In his post, the social activist wrote, “The responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment, ours as a people.
Our responsibility to end Galamsey does not end at elections. Nor does it begin after our party loses one.
This is bigger than petty politics.
On Sunday, 21st September, we will have a vigil at the Revolution Square, and on Monday, 22nd (a holiday), there will be a march calling attention to the urgency of our environmental crisis. Join us”.
Watch the video below: