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Illegal mining: Government has failed- Concerned citizen

A concerned citizen, Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako, says government has failed in the fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.

Government has been fighting illegal mining for many years, but the efforts and investments have all proved futile.

In 2017, the Akufo-Addo government launched a joint Police and Military taskforce named ‘Operation Vanguard’ to rid the country of illegal miners.

It was during the launch that the President made his famous quote, “I am prepared to put my presidency on the line on this matter.”

Despite the massive public support, the impact of the operation was minuscule.

Thus, speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Antwi- Boasiako observed that despite President Akufo-Addo’s zealousness to halt the canker, galamsey has rather blossomed under his governance.

“We have a government that cannot provide governance as we understand it. The President said he was putting his presidency on the line to fight galamsey.

“How many years has it been since 2017? What is the situation on the ground? From what we’ve heard, the situation is worse. Our water bodies have become as you described, dead,” he said.

He, therefore, suggested that a more radical measure must be implemented to eradicate the menace.

On the same show, a fellow at CDD-Ghana, Kwame Sarpong noted that government could exploit other constitutional methods to clamp down the canker.

He questioned the government’s commitment to eradicate the menace.

“How can I sit here in the UK [United Kingdom] and use google maps to accurately pinpoint the contamination of our water bodies but hear a minister say that he is not aware that mining is going on in a forest reserve because a Commission under his Ministry says they haven’t issued a license.

“Last I checked, most of our ministers use smartphones. Couldn’t he have done what we all do to pinpoint what is going on and check what we all saw? This doesn’t require National Security. This requires the persons personal will to act,” he stated.

Source: Ghana News

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