A future National Democratic Congress (NDC) government will launch investigation into the excavators that were seized from illegal mining sites and got missing after being transported to the national capital, Accra.
An assurance given by the Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Etsi Dafeamekpor, who has described the development as scandalous, is to fish out perpetrators of illegal mining who imported those machines into the country.
The legislator, who is also a private legal practitioner, indicated during a contribution on TV3’s KeyPoints on Saturday, June 15, 2024, that such earth moving equipment are registered at the point of entry by the DVLA, and they will trace them to their owners to know where the excavators ‘flew’ to.
“Are you not scandalized that 500 excavators seized from environmental degradation participants or destroyers, mobilised and deployed to Accra cannot be found? Are you not scandalised by it?” he asked host of the programme, Alfred Ocansey.
“Very soon, after six months from hence, we’ll be auditing those activities and you’ll hear the the matters. We shall launch an audit into those matters. You know one thing about those earth moving equipment, they are registered at the point of clearing. DVLA register them so we will track to know who and who are in possession of those machines,” he assured.
The legislator was commenting on the the viral video where a parliamentary candidate is urging constituents to attack the military if they attempt stopping them from indulging in illegal mining.
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Background
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Amenfi East, Ernest Frimpong, urged illegal miners locally referred to as ‘galamseyers’ to resist any attempt by the military or any security officer to stop them from doing their work.
Mr. Frimpong says neither the military nor any security operative currently wields the power to stop anyone from engaging in illegal mining.
“We have cancelled Operation Galamstop and the soldiers who have been tormenting you. So, officially, they don’t have any mandate to do that again,” the Amenfi East PC had stated.
He asked his constituents to fight back the officers whenever they make any attempts to intimidate them since they have no such authority anymore.
In a video going viral on social media, the parliamentary candidate, together with the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, and the MCE, is found engaging some galamseyers where Mr. Frimpong told them that nobody can infringe on their right to mine.
He advised the illegal miners to treat soldiers who are on a patrol well, admonishing them to even give them tips if they so wish. However, if there is any that wants to seize their equipment and stop them for the mere fact that he is security officer, they should fight him and he will be there to defend them.
“But if anyone comes and orders you out for the mere purpose that he is a soldier, do not look at the uniform he is wearing, if he hits you, hit him back, fight him and I will come there. Oh yes, we won’t tolerate those things.
“If he came on a patrol, then he is passing by, and that is why we are telling you that we have revoked the authority they had to arrest you. If you are doing illegal and he comes to arrest you, he is also doing illegal so arrest him back,” he admonished.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces has since issued a statement to that effect, but did not address it directly to the person in the video, which many have criticised.
