Former Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, has called on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to take urgent and decisive steps to address the illegal mining menace, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Friday, September 19, Mr Ofosu Nkansah argued that the governing party had been vocal in opposition about tackling the problem and must now show results.
He reminded the NDC that when it was in opposition, it made strong commitments to end galamsey and restore Ghana’s water bodies.
“When they (NDC) were in opposition they made a lot of noise about galamsey and promised to do a lot of things to help ensure galamsey is fixed,” Mr Ofosu Nkansah stressed.
He noted that those promises had raised public expectations, and Ghanaians were waiting to see concrete actions.
According to him, the NDC can no longer give excuses for the continued destruction of farmlands, forests and rivers by illegal mining operators.
He pointed out that former President Akufo-Addo, upon assuming office in January 2017, banned galamsey just four months later, in April 2017, to demonstrate his government’s commitment to fighting the menace.
“President Akufo-Addo banned galamsey in April 2017 so they (NDC) cannot say eight months is not enough for them to fix galamsey,” he said.
Mr Ofosu Nkansah insisted that the responsibility now lies squarely on the shoulders of the NDC administration to deliver on its promises and safeguard the environment for future generations.
“The ball is their court and they should fix it,” he declared, adding that the public would judge the government by its ability to curb galamsey and restore degraded lands and water bodies across the country.