Despite significant achievements in the fight against galamsey, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo warns the practise remains an existential danger.
He believes that if all Ghanaians join involved, the fight against illicit mining can be won, and he urges them not to rest until the issue is eradicated.
The President stated galamsey must be banned during a natural resource stakeholders forum in Accra.
“Even though much progress has been made in this area between 2017 and 2021, illicit small-scale mining remains a concern and a threat to our basic survival.” “But, we cannot rest while these illegalities continue,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
President Akufo-Addo in July 2017, in a forum against illegal mining, organised to get Ghana’s chiefs involved in the fight against galamsey put his presidency on the line for the fight.
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He vowed to stop the menace, even if he ends up losing the presidency.
The story has been different as some stakeholders have lashed out at the President for reneging on his promise of fighting galamsey.
Former Chairman of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining in a 37-page document accused government officials of engaging in galamsey or interfering in his work.
But the presidency responding to the claims said the document is a catalogue of grievances of Professor Frimpong-Boateng and could best be described as hearsay.
Professor Frimpong-Boateng stated that what he claimed in the report is still true.
He also stated that he has formally signalled his willingness to accept an invitation from the Special Prosecutor’s Office.
“I have formally expressed my desire to accept the offer and assist the OSP in its activities.”
