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The Minister for Government Communications and Member of Parliament for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has stated that President John Mahama’s government is performing better in the fight against galamsey compared to the previous NPP administration.
According to him unlike the previous government, this administration is taking decisive action backed by robust legal reforms and environmental protection initiatives. He disclosed that 71 individuals involved in galamsey have been arrested, and over 150 excavators and firearms have been seized in recent crackdowns.
“The matter that he refers to in respect of some people who purported to be using National Security as a conduit to do this, six people have been arrested in that respect, only yesterday I was at the German Embassy and I made the point that as we speak, 71 people are in the grips of the law for engaging in galamsey. 150 excavators and other equipment, including pump action guns, have been confiscated by the state. When they were in power, the last time excavators were given to them, they did not develop wings and fly, so there is a marked departure from what you used to obtain.” He said.
The Member of Parliament for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese further explained that a key highlight of the government’s anti-galamsey strategy is the laying of Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462 in Parliament on March 28, which seeks to revoke the President’s authority to grant mining concessions in forest reserves. The Minister also revealed that the Attorney General is spearheading efforts to amend the Minerals and Mining Act, Act 703, to out rightly prohibit mining in forest reserves, establishing a permanent legal barrier to environmental exploitation.
“On 28th March, he sat in parliament and witnessed the laying of L.I. 2462, which seeks to remove the power that allows the President to grant concessions into forest reserves. Indeed, the Attorney General proposes that there’s a more robust way to do this by amending the Minerals and Mining Act, Act 703, to completely prohibit forest reserves as places where you can mine, so there’s robust legislation going on to ensure that this promise that President Mahama has made comes to fruition.
“Nobody said anywhere President Mahama never ascribed a timeline for dealing with Galaamse. He never said he would get rid of Galamsey in four mounths because we all know that it’s an insidious problem that has gone on for years. We need legislation to strengthen your ability to fight galamsey.
“The L.I is being amended. It’s in parliament and then I also told you that when parliament comes back, the Minerals and Mining Act is also going to be amended to expressly ban mining at the forest.” He disclosded.
Hon. Kwakye Ofosu pointed to proactive environmental initiatives. He cited the “Tree for Life” reforestation project, launched by President Mahama in the Ashanti Region on March 21, and the “Blue Water Initiative,” which has mobilized 2,000 young people to monitor water bodies and report environmental abuses to the authorities.
“Again, the Tree for Life initiative. On 21st March, I was with the president in the Ashanti region to launch it, where we expect to use afforestation or reforestation as a way of safeguarding the environment. The Blue Water Initiative, you’ve seen 2,000 young men and women clad in yellow and black uniforms who have been recruited. Now, people erroneously think that these are people who are going to face off with the armed bandits operating in the forest, no, that’s not what they are going to do, they are going to be around the water bodies to help with fact-finding, and getting in touch with our public authorities to respond to persons who seek to degrade the environment.
“All these things have been done, in fact, you recall that one of the first steps we did when we came into power was that we revoked all mining leases that we believe were granted irregularly. That was a first step towards ensuring that people don’t secure these leases misuse them.” He said.
The Minister for Government Communications further revealed that President Mahama has prohibited members of his government, and the NDC at large, from engaging in any illegal mining activity, warning that anyone who defies this directive will face the full force of the law.
“Governmental complicity in galamsey, which was one of the reasons why they could not fight it, is no longer the case. I can assure you that the President Mahama has made it clear that you cannot use the name of the NDC or membership of same as reason why you go into that.” He explained
Source: Elvisanokyenews.net
