President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has pledged not to shield any Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive (MMDCE) who is engaging in illegal mining activities popularly known as ‘galamsey’.
According to the president, that there are wide spread allegations against some MMDCEs about their involvement in galamsey and he is ready to expose any of them when he gets enough evidence against any of his appointees.
He said this during an engagement with MMDCEs in Kumasi on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
He noted that he cannot put his presidency on the line to fight galamsey whiles his appointees at the various assemblies will be the ones thwarting efforts to win the fight.
“You are my representatives in the various metropolitan municipal and district assembles and it cannot be that the president is raising a war against galamsey at the national level and you, the president’s representatives will be the ones compromising it,” he said.
He further stated that his engagement with the national house of chiefs and information in the media suggests that MMDCEs are complices in the illegality and he shall expose such appointees when he gathers enough evidence.
“I will not be in the position to protect any MMDCE involved in galamsey. I do not take action according to rumours but I shall not shield any MMDCE when there is evidence against him and he is found guilty after interrogation,” he reiterated.
He said that there is a new legal regime for the punishment of perpetrators in galamsey for both citizens and foreign nationals and such victims could serve a jail sentence of up to 25 years and foreign nationals may also be deported.
“We all know how it cost us in the last election especially the Western Region (Tarkwa) and other mining communities. Our win in the galamsey fight can help us break the 8 and I want us to join efforts to achieve this feat,” he admonished.
By Issah Zakariah|AkomaFM|Onuaonline.com
