A former Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Dr Tony Aubynn, has stated that President Akufo-Addo can stop illegal mining, also known as galamsey, if he is determined to.
According to him, the laws of Ghana clothe the President with the power to stop the illegal practice with just a public announcement.
“I hope the President is listening. The L.I that allowed mining in forest reserves needs a re-look. The President must come and say fellow Ghanaians, no mining on water bodies. Fellow Ghanaians, no mining in forest reserves,” he suggested during an address at a national dialogue on galamsey organized by Media General on September 25.
The National Dialogue is under the theme- “The Galamsey fight: Beyond the talk, what next?”
The event is being held against the backdrop that illegal mining has become a severe threat to Ghana’s environment, particularly to its forest reserves and water bodies.
Dr Aubynn recalled that with the onset of the COVID -19 pandemic, President Akufo-Addo showed leadership by announcing a lockdown which was complied with by every resident of Ghana.
“Speaking truth to power has become a scarce commodity in this country. We have become a talking shop. COVID-19, it took the President to tell us to sleep and we slept. Why is he looking on while we mine in water bodies?’ he wondered.
Dr Aubynn added that “we can exploit the gold without the damage that is being done to the environment.”
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