A private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu has stated that President Akufo-Addo never meant to put his presidency on the line for the fight against the illegal mining menace as he pledged.
Addressing a two-day workshop on galamsey for traditional leaders drawn from different parts of the country in Accra Monday, July 11, 2017, President Akufo-Addo said: “I have said it in the Cabinet, and perhaps this is the first time I am making this public, that I am prepared to put my Presidency on the line on this matter.”
This was followed by the establishment of various military taskforces such as ‘Operation Galamstop’ among others. Among the measures used by the task forces was the burning of excavators.
This measure attracted public condemnation, thus was stopped. Since then, there does not seem to be any real commitment by government to address the menace. The practice of galamsey has worsened and most rivers in the country are all polluted. A situation that has caused the Ghana Water Company to warn of water shortage in the near future if the trend continues.
Speaking on TV3’s Key points on Saturday, September 7, Mr Kpebu said President Akufo-Addo was merely sloganeering when he made that statement.
“Akufo-Addo never meant his i will put my presidency on the line comment. he was merely sloganeering,” Kpebu noted.
