Founder of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe, is questioning the silence of the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and his running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, on the ongoing galamsey menace.
He says the devastating effects of illegal mining in the country deserves a serious attention, the reason the recent demonstrations being organised by Ghanaians to put an end to the canker was needed.
However, Franklin Cudjoe is asking why the government is waiting for another demonstration for it to act, saying that the concerns expressed by many on the menace should have prompted an action, rather than sending the police to arrest protestors.
“On Anti-galamsey (illegal mining) demonstrations, ordinarily, it should not take another demonstration for the government to act. Many have spoken and written about the devastating impact of illegal mining,” he said in a post on his Facebook Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
Mr. Cudjoe wants the Vice President who is also the flag bearer of the NPP and his running mate, also known as NAPO, to come out with their roadmap on how to tackle galamsey as part of their bold solutions.
“Where in the world is Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his running mate in on all the comedy of errors? Anyone heard or seen the two campaigning to be bold with bold solutions for the future demand or suggest how we tackle arguably the second most devastating creation with lasting impact on the living and the unborn, after the most pernicious economic ruin and escalated poverty in half a century?” he quizzed, describing the entire development as a mess. “What a mess!” he added.
He also criticised the President’s approach to tackle the menace this time around, asking that the committee put up by Akufo-Addo is not necessary after having had reports of other investigative bodies abandoned.
According to him, the President could have implemented the recommendations in the earlier reports rather than setting up a new committee.
“How did the president respond this time? By setting up the weakest committee ever to go over many wasting hours of lamentations when more persuasive and punitive recommendations from earlier commissioned inquiries could have been activated,” he cited.
Franklin Cudjoe also cited the Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s report which the President has rubbished, adding that he is not surprised many serious actors have pledged not to submit themselves to the new committee he has set up.
“One such report submitted by the sacked minister for science and environment, Dr. Frimpong-Boateng, fearlessly named politically exposed persons and government backed kingpins engaged in illegal mining. That report has been discarded by the government and the character of it’s author carelessly shredded by the governing party foot soldiers and galamsey kingpins.
“No wonder many serious actors have openly said they’re not going to meet the impotent committee the president has set up. They see through the charade, and the President isn’t even putting up a facade of honouring his own sworn promise of putting his presidency on the line to deal with the deliberately orchestrated mess,” he stated.
