Galamsey Fight: “Let’s’ Shoot to Kill’ – Prof Kofi Agyekum

Head of Linguistics at the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Agyekum, has rallied behind the proponents of the ‘shoot to kill’, order as a part of the measures to curb the galamsey menace.

Speaking on Peace FM’s”Kokrokoo” programme this morning, Professor Agyekum called on the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to be bold and implement the ‘shoot to kill’ directive.

Stakeholders, institutions and individuals have called on the government to declare a state of emergency and instruct the military and other security agencies with a specific directive to shoot at any person involved in illegal mining at the illegal mining (galamsey) sites.

“. . ……… when we meet you there, we must shoot you . . . where we have reached, we have to make up our mind that if you have decided to destroy the nation, the nation must also get rid of you,” he said.

According to stakeholders, institutions, and individuals pushing this agenda,  this approach will deter the illegal miners and save the nation’s water bodies and environment and lives since pollution of the water bodies poses health risks to the populace as well.

Meanwhile, The Ghana Landscape Restoration in Small-Scale Mining Project (GLRSSMP) has kicked against the ‘shoot to kill’ policy in the fight against illegal mining.

The National Coordinator for the GLRSSMP, Dr. Kingsley Krugu, indicated that President Akufo-Addo is rather looking at a long-term solution to the galamsey menace and not the killing of citizens.