President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo has called on the MMDCEs whose jurisdictions are been mined illegally to fully support the government in the fight against galamsey.
After meeting with the National Houses of Chiefs, President Akufo-Addo further met with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives where galamsey is seriously going on in the area.
Nana Addo in his address to the MMDCEs stated that as the MMDCEs are the representatives of the government in power, it cannot be that as the government is waging war against galamsey, they (MMDCEs) will be compromising it in the areas.
He also added that he will not be in the position to protect any MMDCE against who evidence is given or provided to show his or her participation or support for the illegal mining.
“What I want to know is that, I don’t deal with accusations or rumors against MMDCEs but I deal with facts and when facts or evidence is proved against any of you, I cannot shield or protect you”. Nana Addo said.
Nana Addo said that he believes that if Ghanaians see a determined efforts from the government against galamsey, it will help them (NPP) break the eight (8) in the 2024 general elections.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Local government and Rural Development, Hon. Dan Kwaku Botchwey, also added that his ministry has ordered the MMDCEs to give them communities within their areas where galamsey is endangered and they are supposed to give reports of the activities and what they (MMDCEs) are doing about it.
“We have the number of districts in the the regions where mining activities are going on; We have 13 districts in the Eastern Region, 2 in Savannah region, Upper West 6, North East region 2, Upper East 8, Central region 6, Western North 8, Western Region 15, Ahafo region 4, Bono region 4 and Ashanti region 23.” Dan Botchwey enlisted out.
But as to whether we are successful or not in the fight, it is determined by the many the videos that we see and so I expect all of us to have very opened and frank discussion with the president and maybe at the end of the day we shall have galamsey as thing of the past.” The sector minister said.
