Convener of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey and one of Ghana’s leading mobilizers against Galamsey, Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has urged President Mahama and the government to take a hardline position against Galamsey
He argued that the fight against Galamsey should see more action than the rhetoric it is currently receiving.
“…the turbidity of the water has not improved. The Bonsa Water Treatment Plant has actually been shut down and the issues about the poisoning from heavy metals is continuing. So unlike corruption where His Excellency got ORAL in place and they were acting; then you come to the issue of energy where John Jinapor and his team worked on it; you come to education where there was no food in the senior high schools and we saw some action, all we have been hearing is a lot of talk” he lamented, adding “at some point we wrote to the President to issue the cease and desist but you need to accompany that rhetoric with a lot of action”.
Speaking on the Joy News’ Newsfile hosted by Sampson Lardi Ayenini, Mr. Ashigbey pointed out that Galamsey was still ongoing as evidenced in recent happenings and turbidity in water bodies still remaining high.
“The challenge we faced from August last year up till date is has not abated. It is interesting to note that since the government came to power; even before the government came in, we saw that transitioning that happened in 2016, 2017 where the criminals in the NDC government were taken over by the NPP government and started the illegality. I call them criminals because they are engaged in an illegality. And as early as December, we saw that re-transitioning beginning to happen. And on the 20th of December Ohemeng Tawiah was attacked in one of these instances. And that is happening” he stated.
Mr. Ashigbey, who is also the CEO for the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, dissociated from thoughts that had earlier been shared by a co-panelist , that it was good for the president to ask members of his administration not to be involved in Galamsey.
According to him, that is not punitive enough especially with politicians getting involved and lacking the political will to deal with their colleagues included.
“I disagree with honourable when he talks about the fact that it was not/more important for the president to ask that his government do not get involved in mining. One of the major reasons for the failure of the former government was because the fire-fighters themselves became the arsonists. Those we have put into power to be able to regulate this particular activity were actually involved in it”
“…so if you don’t set the clear examples…; if you don’t do that delineation, we are not going to win this fight. So it is going to be very important that His Excellency draws the line. If you want to engage in it, leave government, so that when you are found to be engaging in something that is Illegal, its easy for… because our politicians have demonstrated they are not able to deal with their own”.
Asked if he was still pursuing the matter against NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly called Chairman Wontumi and his Akonta Mining Company together with colleagues, Martin Kpebu and Kwame Sarpong Asiedu, Mr Ashigbey clarified they were still pursuing although the President, taking an action on this and related matters like those named in Prof. Frimpong Boateng’s report, makes things easier. He also added that the team is pursing the case involving the MP for Aowin.
“Yesterday, we were at the Police Headquarters to give our statements for the Aowin issue. And…on Wednesday, I think I was having a chat with Martin. We are going to be going back again to the IGP because that case, the case of Akonta Mining, there was evidence from even the forsetry commission and all of that. So it is important that would happen”
“Again, His Excellency the President had mentioned when he was; a particular statement he made which I disagree about the clemency for all of those who had been jailed for Galamsey but he; the second part I agree, that the kingpin themselves are not arrested. And so the president needs to demonstrate that when we mention a politically exposed person engaged in that, I am hoping that before even our petition as private citizens, His Excellency the President will take action on the issues of Wontumi. He would also take actions on those named by Professor Frimpong Boateng. Because the state has the power to investigate all of these things. Individuals as we are, we will struggle to be able to do that” he stated.
Watch the full discussion below [2:03:50 – 2:37:30]
