Government has spent over $10 million on the Media Coalition against illegal mining, Captain Smart has asserted, asking what the money was used for.
According to the broadcaster, media personalities role were to propagate the repercussions of galamsey on the environments and preach against the menace on their respective platforms.
He therefore doesn’t understand why government should spend such an amount on the coalition.
Speaking on his show Monday, September 19, 2022, Captain Smart noted the stated amount has been embezzled by the government.
A Media Coalition against illegal mining comprising major media organisations was launched in April 2017 to wage a crusade against galamsey activities.
The coalition garnered one million signatories persons who expressed interest in the fight against the menace which was forwarded to the president for radical action.
The Managing Director of the Graphic Communication Group Limited, Kenneth Ashigbey, who was a member of the steering committee then noted the need for galamsey to be curbed following the state’s failure to stop it over the previous years.
He expressed the need for the media to hold leadership accountable as mandated by the 1992 Constitution as the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
Meanwhile, a Minority in Parliament also alleged in April this year that government has spent over GH₵10 million on a national dialogue against galamsey.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources organised a National Consultative Dialogue on illegal mining in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale.
The dialogue was to solicit views, suggestions and proposals across board to curtail the threat of galamsey in the country.
Ranking Member of Parliament’s Select Committee on Lands and Natural Resources, Alhassan Suhiyini had said on the floor of Parliament that the amount was outrageous, accusing the ministry for misappropriating the funds.
The Tamale North MP had said, the Ministry spent an amount of ¢2,140,000 on the national consultative dialogue in Accra, another ¢3.7 million on the dialogue held in the Northern and middle belt and another ¢5.4 million on Regional tours on illegal mining by the Ministry.
“All of these put together Mr. Speaker we are talking about more than ten conferences and dialogue and this is a document from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources during the consideration stage of the 2022 Budget statement. Mr. Speaker ¢10 million just on conferences and dialogue on how to fight Galamsey in this country. How does this impact the fight against Galamsey?” he quizzed.
By Felix Anim-Appau|Onuaonline.com
