The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communication Officer in Prestea Huni-Valley of the Western Region, Mr Kwame Acheampong Bonful popularly known as “The Humble Lion” has rejected government’s community mining initiative instituted by the inter-ministerial committee on mining as an alternative to illegal mining.
He said, the launch of the program doesn’t brings an end to Galamsey or illegal mining which have wreaked havoc to arable lands and water bodies in the country as claimed by the NPP government.
According to him, the community mining will not be done the right way, within the tenets of the mining laws, and will destroy our natural resources.
He challenged the government to provide clarification on which category under the Large Scale Mining, Medium Scale and the Small Scale Mining the NPP’s community mining forms part and the equipment to be used for the mining activities.
“Why President Akufo-Addo inaugurated the Community Mining Programme in Aboaso Methodist primary school compound in Prestea Huni-Valley constituency instead of Community mining site in the Aboaso of the Western region if truly the initiative is genuine” he questioned?.
The Prestea NDC communication officer calls on the government to urgently release the ‘shaft’ to the galamsey miners to mine and ensure proper regulation of the mining activities as being done in cocoa production to create jobs for the youth.
The Community Mining Programme according to the government, is aimed at formalizing mining in selected communities across the country with at least one community is expected to be set up in each of the mining districts in the country.
Mr. Kwame Bonful said, the scandal over the missing excavators seized from illegal miners has unmasked the NPP party and President Akufo-Addo as the ringleader of the “Galamsey” gang sabotaging the fight against illegal mining.
Mr. Acheampong Bonful believe that, the national campaign against illegal mining popularly known as galamsey was coy to enrich members of the ruling NPP party.
“The Vice Chairman of the NPP in the Central Region, Mr. Horace Ekow Ewusi and other accomplices have taken advantage of the state’s fight against galamsey, to allegedly expropriate seized equipment including the 500 excavators and other possessions of illegal miners” he added.
He therefore questions why the minister responsible for Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng is still at post over the missing excavators seized from illegal miners.
Mr. Kwame Acheampong Bonful also bemoaned the silence of major stakeholders such as opinion leaders as well as Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) concerning their plight and that of the Ghanaian natural resources downplayed by the NPP government adding that, posterity will be a better judge.
By// Kwesi Afari
Source//Obohnews
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