The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has debunked claims by the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) that the government is not committed to the fight against illegal mining in the country.
According to the party, the NDC is rather seeking to kill the momentum that the fight against galamsey is gathering.
At a press conference in Accra, the largest opposition party described the measures and strategies put in place by the government to win the war against the illegality as a clear deception, alleging that some members of the NPP and government are behind galamsey in the country.
“The so-called fight against galamsey by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government is a scam and has been a lost battle from day one. This is because there has never been any genuine commitment or political will on the part of the President to combat the menace.”
“We demand the immediate prosecution of all government functionaries and NPP officials who have engaged themselves in illegal mining (galamsey) activities, such as Charles Bissue, Chairman Wontumi, Andy Owusu, Ekow Awusi, Prof. Frimpong Boateng, among others.
“This will be the first step to redemption and serve as a deterrent to other people within your government and party. You need to send a clear signal to Ghanaians that anyone caught in “galamsey” will be dealt with without fear or favour, regardless of party colours,” the National Communications officer of the Party, Sammy Gyamfi, said at a press conference on Thursday.
But Deputy Communications Director of the NPP, Kamaldeen Abdulai, said this is a move by the NDC to kill the fight against galamsey.
“First of all, who brought to prominence this call for a fight against galamsey? It is the New Patriotic Party and the President. He thought it wise in 2017 to have said our environment is suffering, and our people are destroying the water bodies in the name of illegal mining. There’s a need for all of us to come on board to fight this canker. The Media Coalition and others all came out to say that this is a call in the right direction.”
Mr. Abdulai added that; “The fact that you have even intended as the President of the Republic of Ghana to fight that nefarious activity head-on, that alone deserves commendation. At the just-ended meeting in Kumasi, he mentioned that and that he has shown his commitment to it.”