NDC Demands Prosecution of Gov’t Functionaries & NPP Officials Involved In Galamsey

President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has come under vitriolic attack from National Democratic Congress (NDC) for its inability to fight the menace of galamsey in the country.

The party said the Akufo-Addo, Bawumia, and NPP government has not exhibited any genuine commitment to the fight against galamsey and that their so-called fight against galamsey is nothing but a scam.

The NDC said “indeed, we have always told Ghanaians that the single most important thing needed to wage a successful war against illegal mining in Ghana is the political will of duty bearers of the country to confront the menace and all the dark forces fueling it, regardless of whose ox is gored.

It is however been clear to us from day one that behind the façade of the so-called galamsey fight of the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia government, is a well-crafted ruse designed to appropriate the illicit galamsey trade for NPP apparatchiks and high-up in the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia government and their foreign collaborators.

Time without number, we have got the clearest confirmation from countless instances of state-backed complicity, active participation, and sometimes clear aiding and abetment of the illegal mining activities not only by officials of the NPP but by some of the very men and women in the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia government entrusted with the responsibility of protecting our environment.”

Speaking at a news conference in Accra, Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communication Officer of NDC, said illegal mining has gotten out of hand in nearly all regions of Ghana, as galamsey activities blossom in 13 out of the 16 regions of Ghana.

He adds that the increase in the menace of galamsey in the 13 regions is a clear testament to the fact that the fight is completely lost.

The National Communication Officer of NDC said “Having enjoyed the biggest goodwill from Ghanaians, support from the media, civil society, and political opponents, and having Marshalled the coercive force of the state and spent millions of taxpayers’ funds on “Operation Vanguard”, “Galamstop” among others, ostensibly in the fight against the galamsey menace, President Akufo-Addo’s scorecard on galamsey is an unmitigated disaster just as he has proven to be in the area of economic management and all other facets of our national life.”

Sammy Gyamfi cited the missing 500 excavators, several ounces of gold, weapons seized from illegal miners, and a viral video of a conversation between the then Minister for Environment, Science and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, and Ekow Awusi, the NPP’s Central Regional Vice Chairman and the Auctioneer of the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce reminding the Minister that he was the one who instructed him to distribute seized excavators to some party officials and apparatchiks of the NPP because the party needed money and that the agenda of “Party Hia Sika”, came from the NPP leadership who had directed that proceeds from illegal mining be made available to shore up the party’s finances to buttress his assertion that the NPP leadership and Government is deeply involved in the galamsey menace.

Sammy Gyamfi cited the missing 500 excavators, several ounces of gold, weapons seized from illegal miners, and a viral video of a conversation between the then Minister for Environment, Science and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, and Ekow Awusi, the NPP’s Central Regional Vice Chairman and the Auctioneer of the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce reminding the Minister that he was the one who instructed him to distribute seized excavators to some party officials and apparatchiks of the NPP because the party needed money and that the agenda of “Party Hia Sika”, came from the NPP leadership who had directed that proceeds from illegal mining be made available to shore up the party’s finances to buttress his assertion that the NPP leadership and Government are deeply involved in the galamsey menace.

The National Communication Officer of the NDC also mentioned undercover ” Galamsey Fraud” documentary of Anas Aremeyaw Anas which captured Charles Bissue, the then Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee against Illegal Mining demanding, collecting bribes and abusing his office to facilitate illegal mining activities, Hajia Alima Mahama, the then Minister for Local Government public disclosure at an official conference with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives(MMDCEs) of Akufo-Addo and Bawumia government in 2018 that her outfit had evidence that several MMDCEs were engaged in galamsey trade including reports of the illegal mining activities of District Chief Executive for Elembele, Kwesi Bonzo  and his counterparts in Bosome Freho, Yaw Danso, the illegal mining activities of Akonta Mining Limited  in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve located at Samreboi in the Western Region to support his claim that Akufo-Addo and Bawumia government officials and the leadership of the NPP are neck deep in the galamsey menace.

The Akonta Mining company, according to Sammy Gyamfi belonged to Bernard Antwi Bosiako, a.k.a Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of NPP.

As a result of the involvement of government functionaries and NPP officials in the galamsey trade, the NDC demand the immediate prosecution of Charles Bissue, Chairman Wontumi, Andy Owusu, Ekow Awusi, Professor Frimpong Boateng among others.

The party also called for illegal mining companies like the Akonta Mining Limited and Heritage Imperial Mining company which belongs to Donald Enstuah, a known financier of the NPP who has invaded forest reserves without mining permits or leases be closed down and prosecuted.

Source: Adovor Nutifafa

dovor100@gmail.com

Source: Adovor Nutifafa/capitalnewsonline.com
dovor100@gmail.com