The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has stated that government appointees found to be involved in illegal mining activities will be arrested.
This, he said underscores government’s commitment to tackling the environmental crisis.
The statement comes after the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh demanded that the Lands Minister briefs Parliament once every week on fight against galamsey, insisting the issue can’t be business as usual.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Friday, November 21, Mahama Ayariga said President John Dramani Mahama will not shield any government official found culpable in illegal mining, unlike former President Akufo-Addo, who, he said, “did not take any action against government officials and party kingpins who were implicated in galamsey operations.”
“Today, any government official found to be aiding and abetting will be arrested. Any party official, no matter how high, whether you are at the national level or you are at the regional level, if you are caught, the president will not say anything. He will allow the due process of the law to deal with you.”
“Unlike in the past, when certain regional chairmen were known to be openly involved in galamsey and even the minister wrote a report and nothing happened about the report” he said.
