A former Chief Executive of the Ghana Minerals Commission, Dr. Anthony Kwesi Aubynn, is asking why people are blatantly engaging in acts which the constitution clearly speaks against.
He is asking why illegal mining also known as ‘galamsey’, is ongoing in water bodies when the law says otherwise.
According to him, mining concessions per the laws of the land, are even supposed to be granted with some space between them and the water bodies, making the pollution of the rivers mind boggling.
Speaking at Media General’s Anti-galamsey forum on the theme; The Galamsey Fight, Beyond the Talk, What Next?, Dr. Aubynn asked the President to exhibit the same commitment towards COVID-19 to fight illegal mining in the country to save the water bodies and forest reserves.
“Why are we mining on water bodies which the law says don’t? There is no law in Ghana which allows anyone to mine on water bodies. Concessions are even given 100m away from water bodies but we see them and we are not doing anything,” he stated.
He added that politicians do lip service on galamsey during elections and leave the fight after winning power. Dr. Aubynn says such acts that have gone on over the years has not been helpful to the fight, asking that the government repeals the L.I. which grants people permit to mine in forest reserves.
“We are not being sincere to ourselves. That law must be repealed,” he said Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at the Executive Theatre of Media General.
“It is inimical to our environment, our well-being, so please, Executive, go and repeal that law,” he added.
The fight against galamsey has been abandoned by the government leaving citizens to stage a protest to draw the government’s mind on the menace which has caused widespread environmental destruction in the country.
Civil advocacy group Democracy Hub, organised a three-day protest against the government which escalated into a clash with the police leading to the arrest of protestors, including a minor, 10-year-old, amid growing unrest over illegal mining and economic hardship.
Many have criticised the police for the manner with which they handled the protestors, with private legal practitioner, Martin Luther Kpebu, calling for the resignation of the IGP.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Ghana Police Service, Grace Ansah-Akrofi, indicated after the arrests that, the police picked up the demonstrators because their assembly was unlawful, and the officers’ attempt to maintain order caused the clash between them.
“The demonstrators engaged in acts of lawlessness, damaging state property and obstructing traffic,” Ansah-Akrofi told the media, adding that “they disrupted the peace. Those responsible will face justice.”
Meanwhile, the suspects have been detained into custody for two more weeks, something many have condemned and described as out of place.
